DONOR | Donna's Story

Donna Shelton

LIVING Kidney DONOR NEEDED

When seeking treatment for chronic headaches, I was shocked to learn that I have an incurable autoimmune disease and will need a kidney transplant.

Although I am not yet on dialysis, I hope to avoid that grim necessity through a live organ transplant. The average five-year dialysis survival rate is only 30%. The thought of missing those precious years with my children and grandchildren is painful for the entire family.

A living donor gives me the best chance for a successful transplant and a normal life. You only need one kidney to lead a healthy life. Think about sharing your spare! 😊

START YOUR JOURNEY

Become Donna Shelton's Donor

If you are considering being a living donor please use links below to contact Donna Shelton's Transplant Center. Begin by completing the donor questionnaire

Becoming a Kidney DONOR Find a Transplant Center near you

Northwestern Medicine

251 E Huron, Chicago, IL, 60611

(312) 695-0828 Email Transplant Center

Did you know?

Medical expenses for living organ donors are 100% covered, and inquires from potential donors are 100% confidential! Contact the Transplant Center to learn more about living donation.

More Donor FAQs

Share the Importance of Living Donation

There are currently 120,000 people waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant in the U.S. Of these, 100,000 await kidney transplants.

The median wait time for a kidney transplant is 3-5 years and can vary depending on health, compatibility, and where you live.

In 2014, 17,107 kidney transplants took place in the U.S. Of these, 11,570 came from deceased donors and 5,537 came from living donors.

Every 14 minutes someone is added to the kidney transplant waitlist.

A kidney from a living donor lasts longer and begins functioning more quickly than a kidney from a deceased donor.

In 1995, kidney donation became minimally invasive with a procedure called laparoscopic nephrectomy, which only requires four small incisions. Hospital stay is typically only 3 days after this operation.

Not blood type compatible with your recipient to be a living donor? Kidney Paired Donation (the “kidney swap” program) enables incompatible candidates with a living donor to receive a kidney from a compatible donor.

Last year, over 700 living donor kidney transplants occurred using Kidney Paired Donation.