Living Donation... The Gift of Love
Living donation may be the only alternative for individuals awaiting organ transplantation. This is due to the critical shortage of deceased organ donors in the United States.  Living donation is when a living person donates an organ or part of an organ to another person. In order to qualify as a living donor, an individual must be physically fit, in good general health, and free from high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, kidney disease and heart disease. Individuals considered for living donation are usually between 18-60 years of age.
Transplanted organs from living donors have several advantages compared to transplants performed from deceased donors (individuals who have been declared brain dead and their families have made the decision to donate their organs). These include: Living donors who are blood-related are genetically similar, thus reducing the risk of rejection. A kidney from a living donor usually functions immediately, making it easier to monitor. Some non-living donor kidneys do not function immediately and, as a result, the patient may require dialysis until the kidney starts to function. Potential donors can be genetically tested prior to donation. The tests will result in finding a donor who is most compatible with the recipient. The transplant can take place at a time convenient for the donor, recipient and transplant center. There are four ways to be a living donor. Additionally, there are five organs (or sections of organs) that may be given by a living donor:
A segment of liver The lobe of one lung A portion of a pancreas A section of intestine A kidney. This is the most common organ given through living donation. Kidneys are also the most needed; over 60% of those waiting for an organ transplant need a kidney.