Good for you StSanta for being a donor, yes it is possible to have a living donor, in fact that is the preferred way to get one, ( as they usually last longer in the patient) its just that in the US the general population has no clue about kidney issues. that a person lives a completely normal life with just one ( no dietary or fluid restricitons) and has no decrease in life expectancy. One kidney produces more than enough of the various hormones that regulate BP and red blood cell production etc.. I've had a few friends that stepped forward for living donation, but were disqualified (as they are really picky when matching the antibodies in the blood). Also, in the US we are backwards in the organ donor program, Parts of Europe make it mandatory to be a donor when you get your drivers license, but in the US it is an option. also, as advanced as the US is there still is NO national database of antibody registration.. so an Altruistic donor may offer up a kidney in, say, Indiana and have a perfect antibody match, and I'm in Washington, there is no way for us to know about one another. so instead waiting on dialysis.. with its 15 hours a week of treatment, only 3 cups a DAY of fluid, and various restrictions for years and years, it could be a matter of days or hours to find a match with a national database.
rage mode off
