Living Donor vs Cadaver

[mtwskk]

I see many posts out here for living donors. Not everyone can find a living donor. I just want to tell you a story and something to think about, especially if you are on dialysis.

I lost my first kidney a living kidney from my brother-in-law. I was placed on the list with a PRA of 99. They told me 12 years. I went on PD dialysis. About 2 1/2 years in a sweet nurse call and said they had an extended kidney that was at end of life, meaning it had sat around but it was a match. She told me to take the kidney as another one may not come up for another 10 years. I hesitated but said why not, I hated going to bed at 7 PM and staying in bed until my PD finished.

To make a story short, my doctor told me it wasn't an ideal kidney and I might get 1 to 2 years off it. I said 2 years is better then nothing, and was glad that someone had died for me and I was able to get this kidney, good or not, I'd give it a shot. It took about 3 weeks it was sleepy (meaning it didn't work for the first 3 weeks while I waited for it to work), but eventually it did.

Well it's been 6 years and it's still going strong. LESSON TO LEARN - NOT EVERYTHING IS A GIVEN......don't pass up an extended kidney and only go for the perfect match. The doctors are great and so is technology. Look at all options.

Gods' peace and good luck.

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

I too has a cadaver kidney transplant - 18 years ago. Mine turned out to be a better match than 2 of my family members that had been tested for me. Family kidney was a 3/6 match, but the cadaver kidney proved to be a 4/6 match. Now I can take less anti-rejection meds because of the good match. So, yes look at all of your options.

Good luck to all on the wait list!!

[FrankF]

I too had a high PRA and received a cadaver kidney in 1971. It was my second transplant. It was only a 1 antigen match but it lasted for 18 years. Always hope for the best.

[rabbit01]

What an inspiring story. As someone who with an eGFR of just 15% and is heading for dialysis in the not too distant future and whose chances of getting a living donor are about zero I appreciated you sharing this. Thanks