Kidney Donation: A Guide to Helping Someone in Need

Those suffering from severe kidney disorders can be left with kidneys that are barely functioning, requiring the use of a dialysis machine to process wastes. Kidney donation is a potential fix for some disorders, with a healthy donor giving one of his kidneys to the ill person, which if accepted by the recipient's body can begin to function properly and remove the need for a dialysis machine. Donating to a friend or loved one is a big decision that should only be made after careful consideration.

Instructions

• 1

  Consult with the doctor overseeing the person you wish to donate to, to ensure that the patient is in a condition to receive a kidney.

• 2

  Ensure that you are in the acceptable age range for a donation. You must be over 18 to be considered, and not older than in your early seventies.

• 3

  Take a blood test to determine compatibility with the potential recipient of the kidney.

• 4

  Undergo a physical examination to ensure that you are healthy and able to give a kidney. The examination will determine whether your kidney is working well enough to be valuable to the recipient, and also whether you are strong and healthy enough to undergo surgery.

• 5

  Follow all doctor's orders in the days leading up to the surgery. Do not smoke or take any medication containing aspirin.

• 6

  Check into the hospital when instructed, often the morning of the operation. Once you are checked in, the staff will guide you through any further preparations.