Understand what costs are covered and are not covered. Learn about HRSA’s Living Organ Donation Reimbursement Program. Benefits and risks of living organ donation Financial considerations Before deciding to donate, it might be helpful to learn about the different costs of donating. There are medical costs that are covered by the recipient’s insurance and other costs that might be covered by financial assistance programs. The transplant team will talk to you more about these costs during your evaluation. Which transplant costs are covered? A transplant recipient’s insurance generally covers a living donor’s medical costs, including: Evaluation Lab work Imaging, like CTs and X-rays Surgery Hospital stay from surgery If a donor has health problems after surgery related to donating, the recipient’s health insurance or the transplant center will help to cover these costs. Which costs are not covered? A recipient’s insurance does not cover the costs below because these are considered routine healthcare that everyone should be getting, whether they donate or not: Routine tests such as a colonoscopy, a mammogram for women, or a prostate exam for men Medical care if donor evaluation shows that a donor has a disease that needs to be treated before donating Long-term medical care if the donation causes a donor problems Follow-up care for the rest of a donor’s life If you don’t have health insurance, talk to the transplant team about finding low cost or free clinics in your area for these healthcare services. What financial help is available for donors? HRSA’s Living Organ Donation Reimbursement Program Health Services and Resources Administration’s (HRSA) Living Organ Donation Reimbursement Program (LODRP) reimburses up to $6,000 of certain expenses for living donors and their caregivers on their trips to the transplant center for evaluation, surgery, and medical follow-up visits, such as: Travel, lodging, and meals Lost wages Child and dependent care costs To be eligible for reimbursement: The donor and recipient must both be U.S. citizens or lawfully present residents. The donor and recipient must both live in the U.S. or its territories. The donor’s application must be submitted and approved before the transplant surgery. The donor’s yearly household income (when they apply) should be at or below 500% of the U.S. Federal Poverty Guidelines. Other benefits that may help you If you are employed, talk with your employer about other benefits that could be helpful. These include: Vacation time Disability pay Sick time Leave of absence FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) – this may give you up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for medical needs Non-directed living donors (who are not donating to a specific person) can apply alone, without their recipient’s information. Before evaluation, talk to the transplant center about HRSA’s LODRP, including the full eligibility guidelines and types of expenses that can be reimbursed. Learn more about the LODRP The LODRP is administered through the National Living Donor Assistance Center (NLDAC). Other financial resources There are programs that can help with non-medical costs of donating a part of a liver. Talk to your living donor social worker about other financial resources that may be available to you. American Transplant Foundation (ATF): A patient assistance program to help with lost wages. americantransplantfoundation.org/programs/pap National Liver Registry Donor Shield : A program that can offer reimbursement for certain costs such as lost wages, lodging, meals, and even pet care. donorshield.com/liver-donors These are not all the possible resources that may be available to you, and their inclusion on this website is not an endorsement of these services. Previous Next Progress through living liver donor education

Questions to ask to your transplant center. Consider your mental health and the impact on your daily life. Planning for living organ donation If you are exploring living organ donation, here are some additional considerations. As I consider donating, what key questions could I ask? Questions to ask your transplant center What are the risks and benefits of living kidney donation for a recipient? Can I get evaluated at more than one transplant center? What should I do if I feel pressured to donate? After surgery, will I need a caregiver? If so, what will they need to do for me and how long will I need care? What will recovery from surgery be like? How is my pain treated? How soon after donation can I go back to work? What financial resources are available to cover the non-medical costs of my donation? Questions to ask about emotional health It is a transplant center’s responsibility to make sure that potential donors: Understand both the physical and possible emotional health effects of donating Have support before, during, and after surgery Here are some questions you can ask to understand how a transplant center will support you emotionally before and after surgery: Mental health evaluation During evaluation, what questions or tests do you do around my mental health? Could my mental health history or treatment prevent me from donating? Who should I talk with if I am feeling worried or uncertain about donating? What should I do if I change my mind about donating before surgery? Support after donation What feelings are common for donors after donating an organ? What mental health support do you offer donors after surgery? What support do you offer donors if their recipient has problems after surgery? What follow-up care do you recommend for my mental health? Impact on daily life How might donating affect my relationships with family or the recipient? What mental health challenges do donors commonly feel when returning to work or normal life? How can I prepare my family for the emotional aspects of donation? Independence and advocacy If I decide not to donate, how is this information shared with the recipient? How will you help me if I feel pressured by family or the recipient? What happens if evaluation suggests I'm not ready to donate? “I am considering donating a kidney more now than when I started this education.” Yes No Submit Previous Next Progress through living kidney donor education

Understand the kidneys, causes of kidney failure, and possible kidney treatments. Learn about kidneys and kidney transplants What are the kidneys? The kidneys are 2 bean-shaped organs, just below your rib cage on each side of your spine. They filter your blood to remove waste and extra fluid, which becomes urine (pee). They also help control your blood pressure and keep your bones healthy. Why do kidneys stop working? Kidneys can stop working for many reasons. This can happen suddenly or slowly over many years. Some people do not know their kidneys are damaged until they stop working entirely. This is called kidney failure . In kidney failure, a person’s kidneys stop working well enough to keep them alive. If this happens, waste builds up to unsafe levels in their body. This can be life-threatening and raise the chances of a heart attack. What causes kidney failure? Kidney failure can happen for many reasons: Acute kidney failure or injury When someone’s kidneys fail suddenly , it happens over days or weeks. This is called acute kidney failure or injury. It is a medical emergency. Acute kidney failure can be caused by different things, including: Conditions that slow blood flow to the kidneys , such as dehydration, infections, low blood pressure, or heart attack Damage to the kidneys , such as from infections, medicines, or an autoimmune disease (when a person’s immune system attacks their own body) When urine can’t leave the kidney , such as from kidney stones, blood clots in the urinary tract, or bladder, prostate, or cervical cancer Chronic kidney disease (CKD) When someone’s kidneys fail slowly over time , it is called chronic kidney disease (CKD) and leads to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), a long-term condition. In CKD, the kidneys are damaged and lose the ability to filter waste and fluid out of the blood. CKD can be caused by different things, including: Diabetes High blood pressure Polycystic kidney disease (a genetic disease where non-cancerous fluid-filled sacs grow on the kidneys) Autoimmune disease (when a person’s immune system attacks their own body) What are the treatments for kidney failure? The 2 treatments for kidney failure are dialysis and a kidney transplant : 1. Dialysis Dialysis uses a machine to filter waste and extra fluid from a person’s blood. This can be time-consuming, tiring, hard on the body, and can have strict diet restrictions. People are often on dialysis as they wait for a kidney transplant. 2. Kidney transplant With a kidney transplant, doctors take a healthy kidney from a donor and place it into a person whose kidneys have failed (a recipient). People who get a transplant typically live longer and have a better quality of life than those who stay on dialysis. “I am just starting to learn about living kidney donation.” Yes No Submit Previous Next Progress through living kidney donor education

Understand the surgery process and know what to expect. Becoming a living liver donor Donor surgery In a living donor liver transplant, doctors remove between 25% and 65% of a donor’s liver (between a quarter and over half of the liver) and place it into the recipient’s body. Donor surgery usually follows these steps: 1 You and the recipient will go to the hospital on the day of the surgery. 2 Before your surgery, doctors will: Numb your belly area — the numbness will last 12-24 hours. This will help lower your pain after surgery and the amount of pain medicine you’ll need right after surgery. Put a needle into your vein to give you medicine and fluids (called an IV) Put you to sleep with general anesthesia Put in a catheter, which lets urine drain from your bladder while you’re asleep and recovering 3 Donor surgery usually takes 6-8 hours. There are 2 types of living donation surgeries: Open surgery: This is currently the more common type of surgery. A surgeon will: Make a large cut in your belly Remove part of your liver, carefully cutting the blood vessels and other tissues that attach the liver Close the cut with stitches Laparoscopic (also called minimally invasive ), where a surgeon will: Make small cuts in your belly Put a wand-like camera in the cuts so they can see your liver. They put air or gas in you, so they can see better inside your body. Remove part of your liver through a small cut Close the cuts with stitches After either type of surgery, surgeons place the donated liver into the recipient’s body right away. This surgery takes another 6-12 hours. More transplant centers are using robotic surgery . This is a type of minimally invasive surgery that uses robotic instruments and high-resolution cameras to remove a part of your liver. However, this is a new approach and not currently commonly used. Previous Next Progress through living liver donor education

Understand what costs are covered and are not covered. Learn about HRSA’s Living Organ Donation Reimbursement Program. Benefits and risks of living organ donation Financial considerations Before deciding to donate, it might be helpful to learn about the different costs of donating. There are medical costs that are covered by the recipient’s insurance and other costs that might be covered by financial assistance programs. The transplant team will talk to you more about these costs during your evaluation. Which transplant costs are covered? A transplant recipient’s insurance generally covers a living donor’s medical costs, including: Evaluation Lab work Imaging, like CTs and X-rays Surgery Hospital stay from surgery If a donor has health problems after surgery related to donating, the recipient’s health insurance or the transplant center will help to cover these costs. Which costs are not covered? A recipient’s insurance does not cover the costs below because these are considered routine healthcare that everyone should be getting, whether they donate or not: Routine tests such as a colonoscopy, a mammogram for women, or a prostate exam for men Medical care if donor evaluation shows that a donor has a disease that needs to be treated before donating Long-term medical care if the donation causes a donor problems Follow-up care for the rest of a donor’s life If you don’t have health insurance, talk to the transplant team about finding low cost or free clinics in your area for these healthcare services. Other benefits that may help you If you are employed, talk with your employer about other benefits that could be helpful. These include: Vacation time Disability pay Sick time Leave of absence FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) – this may give you up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for medical needs What financial help is available for donors? HRSA’s Living Organ Donation Reimbursement Program Health Services and Resources Administration’s (HRSA) Living Organ Donation Reimbursement Program (LODRP) reimburses up to $6,000 of certain expenses for living donors and their caregivers on their trips to the transplant center for evaluation, surgery, and medical follow-up visits, such as: Travel, lodging, and meals Lost wages Child and dependent care costs To be eligible for reimbursement: The donor and recipient must both be U.S. citizens or lawfully present residents. The donor and recipient must both live in the U.S. or its territories. The donor’s application must be submitted and approved before the transplant surgery. The donor’s yearly household income (when they apply) should be at or below 500% of the U.S. Federal Poverty Guidelines. Non-directed living donors (who are not donating to a specific person) can apply alone, without their recipient’s information. Before evaluation, talk to the transplant center about HRSA’s LODRP, including the full eligibility guidelines and types of expenses that can be reimbursed. Learn more about the LODRP The LODRP is administered through the National Living Donor Assistance Center (NLDAC). Other financial resources There are programs that can help with non-medical costs of donating a kidney. Talk to your living donor social worker about other financial resources that may be available to you. American Transplant Foundation (ATF): A patient assistance program to help with lost wages. americantransplantfoundation.org/programs/pap/ National Kidney Registry Donor Shield: A program that can offer reimbursement for certain costs such as lost wages, lodging, meals, and even pet care. donorshield.com/kidney-donors/ Alliance for Paired Kidney Donation (APKD): Donor Protect provides protection for every living kidney donor who donates a kidney through the APKD. This includes priority for a living donor transplant, should a living kidney donor ever need one, and financial support. paireddonation.org/donorprotect/ American Kidney Fund (AKF): Offers financial support for living kidney donors in Illinois, Massachusetts, New York City, Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, D.C. kidneyfund.org/get-assistance/living-donor-assistance-program These are not all the possible resources that may be available to you, and their inclusion on this website is not an endorsement of these services. Previous Next Progress through living kidney donor education

Start learning about living kidney or living liver donation. Which organ are you interested in learning more about donating? Kidney Learn about living kidney donation — what it is, how the process works, how to become a donor, and financial help. Living kidney donation Liver Learn about living liver donation — what it is, how the process works, how to become a donor, and financial help. Living liver donation

Financial resources for living kidney and living liver donation including the Living Organ Donation Reimbursement Program (LODRP). Learn about financial help Many people would like to donate an organ to a family member or friend, but would have trouble paying for related expenses that are not covered by insurance—like transportation, lodging, food, and dependent care. The costs of the process can be a burden for donors and recipients. And for some, these costs might make living organ donation impossible. This page shares financial resources for living kidney and living liver donation including the Living Organ Donation Reimbursement Program (LODRP). What is HRSA’s Living Organ Donation Reimbursement Program (LODRP)? Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Living Organ Donation Reimbursement Program (LODRP) reimburses up to $6,000 of certain expenses for living donors and their caregivers on their trips to the transplant center for evaluation, surgery, and medical follow-up visits, such as: Travel, lodging, and meals Lost wages Child and dependent care costs The LODRP is administered through the National Living Donor Assistance Center (NLDAC). The National Living Donor Assistance Center exists to provide access to transplantation for those who want to donate, but face financial barriers to doing so. Explore help from NLDAC Who is eligible for the LODRP? To be eligible for reimbursement: The donor and recipient must both be U.S. citizens or lawfully present residents. The donor and recipient must both live in the U.S. or its territories. The donor’s application must be submitted and approved before the transplant surgery. The donor’s yearly household income (when they apply) should be at or below 500% of the U.S. Federal Poverty Guidelines. If it’s a little higher, they may still be able to apply. Non-directed living donors (who are not donating to a specific person) can apply alone, without their recipient’s information. To find out if you may be eligible for financial help, fill out the eligibility screener below: Where can I learn more? Talk to a transplant center Before evaluation, donors can talk to the transplant center about HRSA’s LODRP, including the full eligibility guidelines and types of expenses that can be reimbursed. Read NLDAC’s How to Apply brochures: NLDAC’s How to Apply brochure – English NLDAC's How to Apply brochure - Spanish Learn about financial support for kidney donors through text messages Sign up to get short educational texts sent to your phone to learn at your own pace through QuizToo. Sign up for QuizToo Explore NLDAC’s website Learn about the LODRP program on NLDAC’s website: Explore help from NLDAC Explore additional financial resources These are not all the possible resources that may be available to you, and their inclusion on this website is not an endorsement of these services. Living kidney donor financial resources There are programs that can help with non-medical costs of donating a kidney. Talk to your living donor social worker about other financial resources that may be available to you. American Transplant Foundation (ATF): A patient assistance program to help with lost wages. americantransplantfoundation.org/programs/pap/ National Kidney Registry Donor Shield: A program that can offer reimbursement for certain costs such as lost wages, lodging, meals, and even pet care. donorshield.com/kidney-donors/ Alliance for Paired Kidney Donation (APKD): Donor Protect provides protection for every living kidney donor who donates a kidney through the APKD. This includes priority for a living donor transplant, should a living kidney donor ever need one, and financial support. paireddonation.org/donorprotect/ American Kidney Fund (AKF): Offers financial support for living kidney donors in Illinois, Massachusetts, New York City, Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, D.C. kidneyfund.org/get-assistance/living-donor-assistance-program Living liver donor financial resources There are programs that can help with non-medical costs of donating a part of a liver. Talk to your living donor social worker about other financial resources that may be available to you. American Transplant Foundation (ATF): A patient assistance program to help with lost wages. americantransplantfoundation.org/programs/pap/ National Liver Registry Donor Shield : A program that can offer reimbursement for certain costs such as lost wages, lodging, meals, and even pet care. donorshield.com/liver-donors

Where to learn more if you're interested in donating Where to learn more if you are interested in donating Talk to your transplant center about financial support to lower donation costs There are programs that can help with the costs of donating a kidney: Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Living Organ Donation Reimbursement Program , administered through the National Living Donor Assistance Center (NLDAC) can help eligible donors with travel expenses, lost wages, and dependent care costs. Talk to your transplant center about this program. Explore help from NLDAC American Transplant Foundation (ATF): A patient assistance program to help with lost wages. americantransplantfoundation.org/programs/pap/ National Kidney Registry Donor Shield : A program that can offer reimbursement for certain costs such as lost wages, lodging, meals, and even pet care. donorshield.com/kidney-donors/ Alliance for Paired Kidney Donation (APKD): Donor Protect provides protection for every living kidney donor who donates a kidney through the APKD. This includes priority for a living donor transplant, should a living kidney donor ever need one, and financial support. paireddonation.org/donorprotect/ American Kidney Fund (AKF): Offers financial support for living kidney donors in Illinois, Massachusetts, New York City, Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, D.C. kidneyfund.org/get-assistance/living-donor-assistance-program Talk to your living donor social worker about other financial resources that may be available to you. These are not all the possible resources that may be available to you, and their inclusion on this website is not an endorsement of these services. Learn more about living kidney donation Helpful resources to learn more about kidney donation Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA): Provides trusted federal information and resources about organ donation and transplantation, including living donation, the donation process, and what to expect as a donor. HRSA is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. organdonor.gov/ National Kidney Foundation (NKF): Nonprofit organization with The Big Ask, The Big Give project, which helps begin the conversation about living kidney donation. Becoming a living donor Living kidney donor evaluation Living donor finances and insurance Living donor surgery and risks What to expect after donation How to donate American Kidney Fund (AKF): Nonprofit organization that provides information on kidney disease and becoming a kidney donor. kidneyfund.org/kidney-donation-and-transplant/preparing-your-living-kidney-donation American Society of Transplantation (AST): The Living Kidney Donor Medical Toolkit offers a series of chapters about specific aspects of living kidney donor evaluation and experience. livingdonortoolkit.com/medical-toolkit National Kidney Registry (NKR): Registry that outlines the process of donating through NKR and provides tools for finding a living kidney donor. kidneyregistry.com/ Watch stories of living donors The Living Donation Storytelling Project Hear real life stories on our website Talk to others about living kidney donation Ask your questions through the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) CARES Help Line If you have questions about living kidney donation or transplants, are looking for educational material, or need help finding a transplant center, you can contact NKF CARES: Call: 855-653-2273, Monday – Friday, 9am-7pm ET Or send a message: NKF CARES Talk to a peer mentor through NKF PEERS If you'd like to talk to someone who has donated, had a transplant, or is a care partner for someone living with kidney disease to hear their experience and ask questions, you can contact NKF PEERS: Visit: NKF PEERS Or call: 855-653-2273, Monday – Friday, 9am-7pm ET Ready to get started with living kidney donation? Find a transplant center near you This online tool from The Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients allows you to search for a transplant center in the U.S. based on organ type and location: Find a transplant center in the U.S. Note: This website states it is for recipients, but donors can search for transplant centers too. How did you hear about this website? Social media Friend or family A kidney or transplant organization My doctor My dialysis center My transplant center Other Submit Previous Next Progress through living kidney donor education

Questions to ask to your transplant center. Consider your mental health and the impact on your daily life. Planning for living organ donation If you are exploring living organ donation, here are some additional considerations. As I consider donating, what key questions could I ask? Questions to ask your transplant center What are the risks and benefits living liver donation for a recipient? Can I get evaluated at more than one transplant center? What should I do if I feel pressured to donate? After surgery, will I need a caregiver? If so, what will they need to do for me and how long will I need care? What will recovery from surgery be like? How is my pain treated? How soon after donation can I go back to work? What financial resources are available to cover the non-medical costs of my donation? Questions to ask about emotional health It is a transplant center’s responsibility to make sure that potential donors: Understand both the physical and possible emotional health effects of donating Have support before, during, and after surgery Here are some questions you can ask to understand how a transplant center will support you emotionally before and after surgery: Mental health evaluation During evaluation, what questions or tests do you do around my mental health? Could my mental health history or treatment prevent me from donating? Who should I talk with if I am feeling worried or uncertain about donating? What should I do if I change my mind about donating before surgery? Support after donation What feelings are common for donors after donating an organ? What mental health support do you offer donors after surgery? What support do you offer donors if their recipient has problems after surgery? What follow-up care do you recommend for my mental health? Impact on daily life How might donating affect my relationships with family or the recipient? What mental health challenges do donors commonly feel when returning to work or normal life? How can I prepare my family for the emotional aspects of donation? Independence and advocacy If I decide not to donate, how is this information shared with the recipient? How will you help me if I feel pressured by family or the recipient? What happens if evaluation suggests I'm not ready to donate? “I am considering donating a part of my liver more now than when I started this education.” Yes No Submit Previous Next Progress through living liver donor education

Learn about the evaluation process and what tests and questions to expect. Get support from a donor advocate. Becoming a living liver donor Donor evaluation If the transplant team decides you can continue, you’ll start an evaluation process. This is the process of checking if a person is healthy enough to donate their liver and if donating is safe for them in the short- and long-term. The purpose of the evaluation is to: Make sure that donating a part of a liver will not hurt donors medically, emotionally, or financially Make sure a transplant is likely to have a good outcome for the potential transplant recipient To protect donors, if the evaluation results show that the risks are too high, you may not be approved to be a potential donor. If you are not approved at one transplant center, you may be able to try other centers. And sometimes, the transplant center may ask you to work on certain health issues, such as to quit smoking, and come back in 3-6 months to try again. They can refer you to resources to help with these health issues. What questions and tests happen during donor evaluation? To make sure you are healthy enough to donate, you will take a lot of tests. Your medical information and test results are confidential. By law, transplant centers cannot share your medical information with the transplant recipient without your permission. Here are the kinds of questions and tests potential living donors can expect during evaluation. Each is described below: Mental health and social support evaluation The transplant team will ask you questions about your life. This helps you and the transplant team decide if living donation is right for you. Here are some examples of the questions: Why do you want to donate? Do you feel pressure from anyone to donate? How well do you understand the process, risks, and benefits so that you can make an informed choice? How will donating affect your life? Your family? Will donating affect your job? Your finances? How might donating affect other parts of your life, such as caring for a child or a parent? Who will help you during recovery from surgery? What are your family’s views about your donation? Do you have any mental health issues that could be made worse by donating? How do you think you will feel after donating? How do think you will feel if things don’t go as you had hoped? Some of the questions are really personal. The purpose is to make sure donation is safe and right for you. Be sure to ask any questions you have. There is no such thing as a bad question or too many questions. Answering all of your questions is one of the most important jobs of the transplant team. Bring a family member or friend with you to help you remember everything you need to know. Blood tests Some blood tests give the transplant team information about your health. Other blood tests show them if you are a match with a transplant recipient. Blood type compatibility: Blood tests let the transplant team know if you and a transplant recipient have compatible blood types. If your blood type is... The recipient's blood type must be... If your blood type is O The recipient's blood type must be A, B, AB, or O If your blood type is AB The recipient's blood type must be AB If your blood type is A The recipient's blood type must be A or AB If your blood type is B The recipient's blood type must be B or AB Tissue typing: This blood test checks the tissue match between you and a transplant recipient. Transplant teams use this information in caring for transplant recipients. Even if you and the recipient are not tissue matched, the recipient can still have a successful transplant because of medicines to avoid organ rejection. Cross-matching: This blood test checks for factors that may raise the chance of organ rejection by the transplant recipient. Transmissible diseases: These blood tests look for infections or conditions that a living donor could spread to the transplant recipient. The law requires medical staff to report certain infections confidentially (privately) to public health officials. Heart and lung tests A chest x-ray, an electrocardiogram, and other tests to make sure your heart and lungs are healthy enough for you to be a donor. Liver tests Imaging tests, such as a CT or MRI scan, to let the transplant team look at your liver Some transplant centers do a liver biopsy, which uses a small needle to take a tiny piece of your liver to make sure it is healthy enough to donate. Routine health tests Routine tests depend on your age and the tests you have had in the past, and may include: A colonoscopy Skin cancer screening Gender-specific exams (such as a mammogram for women, or a prostate exam for men) Not all transplant centers require the same tests. The transplant team will explain what tests you need. They also will explain why the tests are important. Previous Next Progress through living liver donor education

Learn about the evaluation process and what tests and questions to expect. Get support from a donor advocate. Becoming a living kidney donor Donor evaluation If the transplant team decides you can continue, you’ll start an evaluation process. This is the process of checking if a person is healthy enough to donate a kidney and if donating is safe for them in the short- and long-term. The purpose of the evaluation is to: Make sure that donating 1 kidney will not hurt donors medically, emotionally, or financially Make sure a transplant is likely to have a good outcome for the potential transplant recipient To protect donors, if the evaluation results show that the risks are too high, you may not be approved to be a potential donor. What questions and tests happen during donor evaluation? To make sure you are healthy enough to donate, you will take a lot of tests. Your medical information and test results are confidential. By law, transplant centers cannot share your medical information with the transplant recipient without your permission. Here are the kinds of questions and tests potential living donors can expect during evaluation. Each is described below: Mental health and social support evaluation The transplant team will ask you questions about your life. This helps you and the transplant team decide if living donation is right for you. Here are some examples of the questions: Why do you want to donate? Do you feel pressure from anyone to donate? How well do you understand the process, risks, and benefits so that you can make an informed choice? How will donating affect your life? Your family? Will donating affect your job? Your finances? How might donating affect other parts of your life, such as caring for a child or a parent? Who will help you during recovery from surgery? What are your family’s views about your donation? Do you have any mental health issues that could be made worse by donating? How do you think you will feel after donating? How do think you will feel if things don’t go as you had hoped? Some of the questions are really personal. The purpose is to make sure donation is safe and right for you. Be sure to ask any questions you have. There is no such thing as a bad question or too many questions. Answering all of your questions is one of the most important jobs of the transplant team. Bring a family member or friend with you to help you remember everything you need to know. Blood tests Some blood tests give the transplant team information about your health. Other blood tests show them if you are a match with a transplant recipient. Blood type compatibility: Blood tests let the transplant team know if you and a transplant recipient have compatible blood types. If your blood type is... The recipient's blood type must be... O A, B, AB, or O AB AB A A or AB B B or AB If your blood type is... The recipient's blood type must be... If your blood type is O The recipient's blood type must be A, B, AB, or O If your blood type is AB The recipient's blood type must be AB If your blood type is A The recipient's blood type must be A or AB If your blood type is B The recipient's blood type must be B or AB Tissue typing: This blood test checks the tissue match between you and a transplant recipient. Transplant teams use this information in caring for transplant recipients. Even if you and the recipient are not tissue matched, the recipient can still have a successful transplant because of medicines to avoid organ rejection. Cross-matching: This blood test checks for factors that may raise the chance of organ rejection by the transplant recipient. Transmissible diseases: These blood tests look for infections or conditions that a living donor could spread to the transplant recipient. The law requires medical staff to report certain infections confidentially (privately) to public health officials. Heart and lung tests A chest x-ray, an electrocardiogram, and other tests to make sure your heart and lungs are healthy enough for you to be a donor Kidney tests Imaging tests, such as a CT or MRI scan, to let the transplant team look at your kidneys Blood and urine (pee) tests to learn more about your kidney health Routine health tests Routine tests depend on your age and the tests you have had in the past, and may include: A colonoscopy Skin cancer screening Gender-specific exams (such as a mammogram for women, or a prostate exam for men) Not all transplant centers require the same tests. The transplant team will explain what tests you need. They also will explain why the tests are important. Support from a donor advocate If you start donor evaluation, the transplant center will assign you an independent living donor advocate (ILDA). An ILDA’s job is to protect you. Their job is not to think about what the transplant recipient needs or make transplants happen. The ILDA will: Protect you and your best interests Support your rights, such as making sure you have the time and information you need to decide if donating is right for you Make sure you know the risks and benefits of living donation Help you walk away if you decide living donation is not right for you The ILDA will make sure you have information about: Consent: When you agree to give medical information and undergo testing Evaluation: What tests you need to take and why The surgery: What to expect the day of the operation and the risks Recovery: What to expect after surgery and getting back to normal activities ILDAs want you to share anything that is on your mind. If you have fears, concerns, or second thoughts, your ILDA wants to know. Sharing your thoughts is the best way to help your ILDA support you and help you decide what is right for you. The advocate will not share your medical or other information with the transplant recipient. How long does evaluation take? Meeting the transplant team and doing testing at the transplant center can take 1-2 days. The overall evaluation process can take several months because you may need additional testing. This depends on transplant team scheduling and how quickly you can get the tests done. Where is evaluation done? Donor evaluation is done through the transplant center. You may go to a hospital or lab for blood draws or other lab tests. If you are donating to someone whose center is far away, you may be able to do some of the medical tests closer to your home. Talk with the transplant staff about options. Previous Next Progress through living kidney donor education

Make plans for travel and lodging, time off work, caregiving, costs, and social support. Planning for living organ donation If you are exploring living organ donation, here are some additional considerations. As a living donor, what plans will I need to make? Travel and lodging You will need to plan travel to and from the transplant center for: Evaluation appointments The donation surgery Follow-up appointments If you do not live close to the transplant center, you may also need to plan for lodging, such as a hotel. Caregiving If you are a caregiver, you will have to make plans for care during: Evaluation appointments The donation surgery Recovery from surgery, which may take several weeks Follow-up appointments Time off work You will have to plan time off work for: Evaluation appointments The donation surgery Recovery from surgery, which may take several weeks Follow-up appointments Costs You may have expenses or out-of-pocket costs related to donor evaluation, surgery, and recovery, including: Time off work, which may mean lost income if you don't have paid leave Costs such as gas, meals, and lodging if you have to travel to and from the transplant center Parking Social support The decision to donate is not easy. There is a lot to think about. Include your family and friends in the process to build strong support, such as: Share with your friends, family, and primary care doctor that you are considering organ donation and share your reasons for donating. Educate yourself and your support system on the benefits and risks of donating. Share your feelings and concerns , such as surgery or financial questions, or getting back to your life after donating. Talk with them about the emotional changes that can happen after donating. If they know ahead of time, they will be prepared to support you before and after donation surgery. Consider talking with living donors who have been through the donation process. Transplant center staff can connect you with living donors who can share their experience with you, or you can visit the National Kidney Foundation’s PEERS program . The more connected you are to your support system, the more likely you are to feel confident in your decision, keep your follow-up appointments, and feel more support for your emotional health after donating. Previous Next Progress through living kidney donor education