Information Please

[geneball]

What is the current longest surviving transplanted kidney in the U. S.? Where was it performed and by whom?

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

I believe the longest survivor of a kidney transplant is 35 years and is from somewhere in Canada. I remember reading about him maybe 6 months ago. Not sure where in Canada that he had his transplant. I am 18 years post transplant from a cadaver donor. I know there have been posts from people on Healthunlocked that are living 24 & 29 years after their transplant. I am not sure if they were from a living donor or cadaver.,

[geneball in reply to WYOAnne]

Hi WYOAnne! Thanks. I am trying to find out where I rank in transplant history. I received my cadaver kidney at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison. My surgeon was named Dr. Malek. I am the very fortunate old man who received this gift on June 2nd in 1973.

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[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador in reply to geneball]

WOW! 1973!!!! I also received my transplant at U of WI Hospital in 1999. I live in WY now, for about 18 months. i wonder what we have to do to get you in the history books? I will contact the NKF Administrator for this site and see what she says. Your transplant must have been from a cadaver, because I don't think they were doing live donors in '73. It must be a great match? My kidney matched 4/6 antigens. What do you take for your immunosuppressants?

[geneball in reply to WYOAnne]

I think you must be right about the great match. When I first started on immunosuppressants it was Imuran. Years later, I was prescribed the generic equivalent Azathioprine ehich is still what I take.

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

Most of us are put on 3 immunosuppressants. I was put on prednisone, Myfortic and Neoral. I was able to stop the steroids, prednisone, but still take the other two, twice daily. I did contact Kelli, she is the administrator of this site, I told you about. We will see who, if she knows, is the longest survivor of a kidney transplant. Since they just started doing kidney transplants in the late 60's.......

Take care! And thanks for posting your GOOD NEWS on this site!

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

Hi again. I just heard from Kelli and she suggested that you contact UNOS. They should have a website and a way for you to contact them. I will also post something for ALL to see if there is someone out there that has had a transplant longer? don't think there is. Will be in touch. Let us know what you hear from UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing)

[Godmar]

Hi .Had my transplant in Oct. 1983. In flint mi. Dr. Was Dr. James I believe he moved 2 California after that 35 yrs this year from a cadaver.

[geneball in reply to Godmar]

Good for you and good luck for many years to come.

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador in reply to geneball]

Hi! don't know if you saw the post from"keningold"? Said that "jonboyTX" had his transplant in 1964 and he is also searching for others like you that are long term survivors. Why don't you send jonboyTX a reply?

[Charlene_Coxhead]

Does this help

Johanna Leanora Rempel (née Nightingale, b. Mar. 24, 1948) of Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, received a kidney transplant from her identical twin sister Lana Blatz, on Dec. 28, 1960 at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. I last saw the category in Guinness 2004 (published Aug./Sept. 2003), so she had likely lived with the transplant for some 42 years by then. You can find a reference here (citing Guinness 2003). --Anshelm '77 19:35, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

[w003cxn]

got my cadaver kidney 10/29/72. 45 years and counting At Univ ofr Cincinnati Dr Wesley Alexander

[geneball in reply to w003cxn]

Congratulations, hope you are doing well. We are both extremely lucky puppies. Thanks to the advancement of medical science we have both survived far beyond reasonable expectations.

[Balaena in reply to w003cxn]

God bless you. I am on year 28 also from a deceased person. Got a hiccup when my creatinine went up. Got little edgy but hearing you lifted my spirit. Good going brother.

[Yankcg70]

Geneball, i have had mine for almost 30 years. It was a cadaveric transplant and it was performed at Albany medical center. I am 48 years old. I also no longer take immunosuppressant drugs either. I do believe there are several out there that were done in the 70s that still have theirs but not very many. There is Facebook page called "the quarter century club" that has members who have had theirs 25+.

[Chattycat in reply to Yankcg70]

This is making me hopeful as a cadaveric recipient (7 years). But how have you managed to avoid rejection not being on immunosuppressants?

[Yankcg70 in reply to Chattycat]

As my dr said, he firmly believes after all this time the organ has adjusted to being more me than the original person. Not sure if that is possible but im gonna run with it. I wish more drs would take a chance and see if they cant get more people off of them or to a very small dose. I know its scary but i think with the right patient dr combo it could be done i hope.

[Chattycat]

I suppose after that long, it's a possibility. I'm concerned the toxicity of the immunosuppressants may do me in before a rejection! I'm seeing effects on my health already after only seven years. I'm glad you've stayed healthy this long, and keeping my fingers crossed for you! I hope you keep us updated.