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Talk to someone who has already done it.

Everyone here has either donated a kidney or received one, and has volunteered to answer questions. They are not doctors and they are not recruiters — they will tell you what it was actually like, and nothing else.

Writing to somebody costs nothing and commits you to nothing. Your message goes through us; they never see your email address unless they reply, and you never see theirs.

EveryoneDonorsRecipients
  • Mark

    Mark

    Transplant recipientWhat it cost me · The surgery and recovery · Time off work · How I am years later · Telling my family · How I asked people · Being on the list

    Mark

    Transplant recipientsince 2023· Mckinney, TX

    I have lived with kidney disease since early childhood and have undergone four kidney transplants. My first transplant came from my mother when I was 21 months old, followed by a second from my father when I was 13. A third transplant from my uncle failed shortly after surgery, and I was later diagnosed with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) at the University of Minnesota. After approximately seven years, I received my fourth kidney transplant from my cousin, giving me another chance to live a healthy and fulfilling life.

    Happy to talk about

    What it cost meThe surgery and recoveryTime off workHow I am years laterTelling my familyHow I asked peopleBeing on the list
  • Brandon

    Brandon

    Living donorThe surgery and recovery · Time off work · Telling my family

    Brandon

    Living donorsince 2026· Dallas, TX

    Donated to someone i knew

    I was a direct match for my dad. I kept it to myself until a week before surgery. Once I found a transplant center that would take me as a donor, it was a straightforward yes. We're both doing great. If you're nervous about asking someone, or just curious how it works, I'm an easy person to ask.

    Happy to talk about

    The surgery and recoveryTime off workTelling my family

    Also speaks Spanish

Worth knowing

Mentors share their own experience and nothing else. They do not give medical advice, do not assess whether anyone is a suitable donor, and are never paid — for their time or for anything connected to a donation. If anybody here ever raises money, payment or anything of value in connection with a donation, tell us — that is a federal crime and it is also the one thing that would end this directory.

Been through it yourself?

The questions people are most afraid to ask a surgeon are the ones you can answer in twenty minutes. You choose what you are willing to talk about, and you can stop at any time.

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