Living Donor Program

The process

When you start the process to donate a kidney, you are taking the first step on a journey toward giving another person the gift of life. Our team is honored to help guide you through this journey.

To begin your donor referral, you can either:

• Speak to one of our living donor coordinators by calling 864-455-1770
• Complete our donor application

Next, we will ask you several initial screening questions, including:

• Are you at least 18 years old?
• Why do you want to donate?
• Are you in good physical health?

Blood type and cross match

If our living donor transplant team decides you meet the basic requirements to continue the process of living donation, they will help you schedule lab work that will determine whether you are a match to donate to your transplant candidate.

Paired donor exchange

If you cannot donate directly to your transplant candidate because of blood type or crossmatch test results, there are other alternatives. Paired donor exchange programs allow for you to donate to another donor recipient pair who also cannot schedule a transplant together. In these circumstances, you would donate to the other pair’s recipient and their donor would donate to your recipient. It allows us to give your recipient the great benefit of a living donor transplant even if you are not compatible.

Donor evaluation

The donor evaluation is a comprehensive process designed to ensure the safest possible approach to your care and give you the information you need to feel comfortable donating the gift of life. Testing includes a chest X-ray, EKG and CT angiogram.

 

Your living donor team

Our team is here to help you understand what to expect when you donate a kidney. We will make sure you have the opportunity to ask as many questions as you need to feel comfortable.

• Donor nephrologist: The nephrologist will evaluate your health to make sure you are a safe candidate for donation and will discuss long-term implications donating may have on your health.
• Donor surgeon: Your surgeon will perform a history and physical, and make sure you are a good candidate to donate. He will explain the risk of surgery and answer any questions you have about the procedure.
• Living donor advocate: Your advocate makes sure your needs are met during the donor evaluation process. They will explain the steps in the process and be with you throughout your journey.
• Social worker: Your social worker will help you connect with the support you need to prepare for and successfully undergo the donor procedure.
• Review committee: After you complete your donor evaluation, the donor team will meet to review everything about your case. If the donor review committee believes you are a good candidate and it is safe to move forward, the committee will schedule your case.