Mary Anne Jones

LIVING Kidney DONOR NEEDED

I have Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). It is an inherited disease that causes cysts to form on my kidneys. When I was in my 30’s we learned that I had PKD. By the time I was in my 40’s I started feeling some effects - high blood pressure, pain from increased kidney size, and headaches. Today my kidneys are 4 to 5 times normal size and quickly approaching complete kidney failure. In January my nephrologist referred me to the kidney transplant team at Scripps Hospital due to the accelerated loss of kidney function I have experienced over the last year. I have been going through many evaluations and I just learned I should be cleared to be put on the transplant list shortly.

Unfortunately, there are not near enough donor kidneys available to meet the demand of those in need. There are 94,000 people waiting for a kidney each year, with only about 15,000 transplants performed each year. The wait for a deceased person’s (cadaver) kidney therefore is really long, up to 12 years. Many patients in need do not make it that long even if they are on dialysis.

My best option is a transplant from a living donor. That avoids the long wait list time and also results in a much better outcome. Living donor kidneys generally last up to twice as long as cadaver kidneys. Also, the ability to schedule a living donor transplant prior to my experiencing the severest effects of end stage kidney failure increases the success rate.

We have been fortunate that we had the ability to retire early. We have been using this time before I experience complete kidney failure to knock some things off our bucket lists: travel, moving my parents closer, enjoying San Diego, friends, and family. But now it looks like I need to find a living donor match within the next 6 to 9 months.

I know the decision to become a kidney donor is a big one. No one should consider it without researching it thoroughly. I am under the care of the Scripps Organ Transplant Center. Anyone interested in becoming a live donor, or just seeking more information should call them at 858-554-4310. They will handle it completely confidentially with firewalls in place to protect the interests of the potential donor. A donor is not liable for any costs associated with the initial evaluation or an eventual transplant procedure.

There is a lot of information available on line at the following sites:
www.unos.org, www.transplantingliving.org, www.optn.org, www.scrippshealth.org, www.livingdonors.org.

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