I've done many donor nephrectomies over the years, and to be a donor you have to be pretty darn healthy, both mentally and physically--the surgeries are much less invasive than in the past now that we are using laparoscopy, but still, any surgery is a big surgery when you're the patient, and since you're not sick, you have the most to lose. In addition, I would caution people to remember that down the road, you are at risk for problems with the remaining organ (e.g. if you get cancer in your remaining kidney, you probably will need dialysis).
I have only taken care of one woman who donated her kidney anonymously to someone she did not know. Unfortunately, it was rejected.
Regardless, the decision to donate an organ is amazingly selfless. I don't want to scare anyone; I just want you to know the facts before you donate.
I have only taken care of one woman who donated her kidney anonymously to someone she did not know. Unfortunately, it was rejected.
Regardless, the decision to donate an organ is amazingly selfless. I don't want to scare anyone; I just want you to know the facts before you donate.