It is an important gift to sign up as an organ donor – many lives will be impacted by that choice. But, as the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) notes, why wait? You can become a living kidney donor right now.
100,000 Americans are waiting for a kidney transplant but only 18,000 will get a one this year. The NKF hopes to improve these numbers through The Big Ask: The Big Give Campaign (https://www.kidney.org/transplantation/livingdonors). This campaign provides resources for kidney patients to have the conversation about living donation with friends and loved ones.
In addition, the campaign provides information for potential donors as well as video testimonials from people who have donated–family members, friends, acquaintances and altruistic donors–and transplant recipients. These testimonials are candid and cover all aspects of the process from the emotions from dealing with kidney disease and dialysis to the transplant procedure, the work up and approval process, and recovery for the donor and recipient.
It is a Big Ask – but hopefully this information will spur someone to make The Big Give.
While it is a big decision to donate a kidney, living donors can save lives. If you think it might be something that you are interested in, you can best help us by calling us at 770-310-2426 for info to do a 15-minute phone screening on being a living donor. You can also call the St. Luke’s Transplant Department directly to do the screening at 832-355-4100. Just tell them your planned recipient is Dominique (Nikki) Brooks. They will ask for my birth year, which is 1967.
Be Inspired — Give Life!
Dominique (Nikki) Brooks
Happy New Year!
Dialysis.
to place a catheter into the abdomen for access. During this type of dialysis, a special type of fluid (dialysate) is placed in the abdomen through the catheter. While the fluid is in the abdomen, extra fluid, chemicals, and wastes are drawn out of the blood vessels into the dialysate fluid in the abdomen. The abdominal fluid is then removed and thrown away. This process is done several times a day or night and can be done by the patient at home.
Hemodialysis (shown at left) uses an artificial kidney – in the form of a machine – to clean the blood removing wastes, extra chemicals, and fluids. This method requires the placement of an access into the blood vessels – typically on the arm or leg. Hemodialysis typically lasts 4 hours each time and happens 3-4 times a week.
There are over 120,000 people in the United States currently waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant.
My family has a heredity history of Polycystic Kidney Disease but I thought that taking care of myself might lower my risk. Unfortunately, that did not prevent my kidneys from failing. Thus, I am need of a living kidney donor. I appreciate those of you who read my posts and send me good wishes. They really do help!