Living Donor Q and A

MUSC Health's Living Donor Program assists individuals who are considering donating a kidney or a portion of their liver to a recipient. Our living donor program for kidney donors is well established, and we have recently reinvigorated our living donor program for liver transplants. Becoming a donor is life-changing for a donor and a recipient. In 2020, MUSC Health received 1,600 referrals (potential donors) for kidney transplants and performed 42 living donor surgeries. Our goal in 2021 is to increase that number to 60. Still, the need is acute. More than 90,000 people are on the national waiting list for a kidney transplant, and their average wait time is 3 to 5 years. We asked Lilian Jarvinen, MUSC Health's Living Donor Program facilitator and herself a living kidney donor, to answer the questions many people have about organ donation. If you or someone you know is considering becoming a donor, read below to learn what the experience is like and how you can give the gift of life to someone in need.

Q. If I want to be a living kidney donor, what is the process?

A. Your first step is to fill out the health history form on MUSC Health’s Transplant Center website.
Once the form is completed, it’s reviewed by our living donor team. For the safety of the recipient and the donor, we’re very selective. If you progress through the initial screening, you’ll be asked to have blood work and urine studies completed local to you. You will also need to wear a blood pressure monitor for 24 hours; this is sent to your home. If all results are within safe parameters, a nurse coordinator will schedule you for a 2-day evaluation at MUSC, where you’ll have in-person appointments with the living donor team and undergo a complete day of physical testing. After tests and interviews are completed, your results will be reviewed by the living donor team that includes a transplant surgeon, transplant nephrologist, dietitian, nurse coordinators, social worker, independent living donor advocate, and program facilitator who will determine if it is safe and also appropriate for you donate a kidney through our living donor program.

Q. Is there an age limit or other restrictions?

A. Donors must be at least 18. MUSC does not have an upper age limit. Candidates must be in overall good health with a normal BMI (body mass index) and we review family and personal disease history.

Q. What if I have other questions during the donor process? Do I have an assigned doctor or someone to contact?

A. Yes. You have a team of experts dedicated to you. They include physicians, nurse coordinators, program assistants, independent living donor advocates, a social worker, a navigator, and a facilitator who work together to answer questions and provide support. It is important to recognize that the donor and recipient have separate teams.

Q. What if I change my mind about becoming a donor?

A. You have the right to change your mind at any time during the process, including the day of surgery.

Q. If I'm selected to be a donor, what about planning and scheduling for surgery?

A. We move at the donor's speed. We also need to ensure the recipient is eligible for a transplant before scheduling surgery. If a donor and recipient are both ready for surgery and they're a match, the donor determines the timing of the surgery. Otherwise, the surgery will depend on when a match is identified if they're participating in our exchange program.

Q. How long does the surgery last?

A. A donor checks in the morning of surgery and the surgery itself typically lasts 3 to 4 hours, followed by a 1- to 2-night stay in the hospital. Post-op donor patients can return home after discharge to continue their recuperation.

Q. What about post-surgery care and follow-up visits?

A. Donors must have follow-up and wellness visits after surgery at 2 weeks, six months, I year and at 2 years. We can accommodate these appointments virtually or in-person.

Q. How do donors fare after surgery?

A. Donors typically do well because the living donor team is careful to select only those who are expected to do well afterward. Restrictions are minimal: no lifting more than 10 pounds for 6 weeks post donation. During that time, patients may return to work and/or gradually increase physical activity based on how they feel. Keep in mind that everyone's recovery and healing time are different.

Q. What does it cost to donate a kidney?

A. Donors are not billed for standardized testing, surgery, or any required follow up appointments. However, donors are responsible for their own travel, lodging, and non-standardized testing (i.e., if incidental findings are discovered during workup). Financial assistance is available to offset some of these costs.

Q. If I donate a kidney to a stranger as part of MUSC Health's Living Donor Program, will I be able to meet the recipient?

A. We will arrange a meeting for anyone who would like to meet as long as their surgeries are performed the same day at our facility. Not all donors and recipients request to meet; everyone's experience is different.

Q. What factors determine whether two people are a match?

A. Blood types, immune systems, age, and body size are some of the biggest factors. For instance, someone who is petite would not necessarily be a good match for a larger recipient, but each situation is unique.

Q. As a donor, what would you tell someone who is considering becoming a living donor?

A. I would say that you truly change someone's life by donating a kidney or part of a liver. I donated a kidney in 2017 and went on with my life as normal, with one exception: It changed my life for the better.

If you're interested in learning more or beginning the process of living donation, please contact MUSC Health's Living Donor Program at:

• Phone: 843-792-5097
• Fax: 843-876-2968
• Address: 162 Ashley Avenue MSC 586, Charleston, SC 29425