Kidney Transplant
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
My husband, Ray, started dialysis on Aug. 28, 2007, and is a candidate for a kidney transplant. If any of you would be interested in being a living kidney donor, please contact Cindy Alexander at 800-444-2001 ext. 6275, our kidney transplant coordinator, and she will start the process of matching the donor to the recipient, Ray Plummer. Ray's blood type is O positive.
Here are some facts about kidney transplants:
* 70,800 people awaiting kidney transplant
* 17,000 kidney transplants in 2006
* 4,000 people die yearly while awaiting kidney transplant
* The national waiting list is growing two to three times faster than the number of available donors
The purpose of this letter is to inform our family and friends of the ongoing shortage of organs in the United States. Over the past several years, the concept of living donation has become a reality, and living kidney donation now makes up about 50 percent of the total number of kidney transplants.
A living donor transplant is one in which a healthy donor volunteers to have one of their kidneys removed and implanted into the recipient. This amazing alternative is possible because of the unique nature of the human kidneys; most of the general public can survive and live a normal healthy life with just one kidney.
The kidney is removed by a physician who is trained in laparoscopic surgery, which means that there are three small incisions, and one incision that is approximately 3-4 inches long. The length of stay in the hospital is usually about two days, and most people can return to work within two weeks.
All potential living donors are put through a rigorous medical and psychological exam, which includes lab test, cardiac testing, x-rays and psychological exam with our living donor advocate. If any abnormalities are detected, you will not be able to donate a kidney; the donor can never be put at risk. You will be able to back out at any time, and all medical expenses are covered by the recipients insurance.
Living donation can keep the recipient from experiencing the damaging side effects of prolonged dialysis. It shortens the wait time, and can be scheduled months in advance. After the transplant, the recipient will be able to return to life that is dialysis free.
No words of gratitude can express what such a gift would mean to our family. This would obviously be a life-giving measure, one that would return our lives back to what they were prior to dialysis.
Coming forward as a living donor is a big step, but is only a first step. There is substantial consideration and many issues that may arise along the way that may rule out donation. We hope that you will take the time to consider living donation, and please feel free to contact us for questions or concerns. We are working closely with our transplant team and they are more than willing to answer questions and provide a more detailed outline of the process.
Ray and I know that God is in control of our lives in this situation. We are trying to put all of our concerns in His loving hands and do what we, as His children, can humanly do to improve his health and let God's will be done!
Ray and Dianne Plummer
Warsaw[[In-content Ad]]
My husband, Ray, started dialysis on Aug. 28, 2007, and is a candidate for a kidney transplant. If any of you would be interested in being a living kidney donor, please contact Cindy Alexander at 800-444-2001 ext. 6275, our kidney transplant coordinator, and she will start the process of matching the donor to the recipient, Ray Plummer. Ray's blood type is O positive.
Here are some facts about kidney transplants:
* 70,800 people awaiting kidney transplant
* 17,000 kidney transplants in 2006
* 4,000 people die yearly while awaiting kidney transplant
* The national waiting list is growing two to three times faster than the number of available donors
The purpose of this letter is to inform our family and friends of the ongoing shortage of organs in the United States. Over the past several years, the concept of living donation has become a reality, and living kidney donation now makes up about 50 percent of the total number of kidney transplants.
A living donor transplant is one in which a healthy donor volunteers to have one of their kidneys removed and implanted into the recipient. This amazing alternative is possible because of the unique nature of the human kidneys; most of the general public can survive and live a normal healthy life with just one kidney.
The kidney is removed by a physician who is trained in laparoscopic surgery, which means that there are three small incisions, and one incision that is approximately 3-4 inches long. The length of stay in the hospital is usually about two days, and most people can return to work within two weeks.
All potential living donors are put through a rigorous medical and psychological exam, which includes lab test, cardiac testing, x-rays and psychological exam with our living donor advocate. If any abnormalities are detected, you will not be able to donate a kidney; the donor can never be put at risk. You will be able to back out at any time, and all medical expenses are covered by the recipients insurance.
Living donation can keep the recipient from experiencing the damaging side effects of prolonged dialysis. It shortens the wait time, and can be scheduled months in advance. After the transplant, the recipient will be able to return to life that is dialysis free.
No words of gratitude can express what such a gift would mean to our family. This would obviously be a life-giving measure, one that would return our lives back to what they were prior to dialysis.
Coming forward as a living donor is a big step, but is only a first step. There is substantial consideration and many issues that may arise along the way that may rule out donation. We hope that you will take the time to consider living donation, and please feel free to contact us for questions or concerns. We are working closely with our transplant team and they are more than willing to answer questions and provide a more detailed outline of the process.
Ray and I know that God is in control of our lives in this situation. We are trying to put all of our concerns in His loving hands and do what we, as His children, can humanly do to improve his health and let God's will be done!
Ray and Dianne Plummer
Warsaw[[In-content Ad]]
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