YOUR OPTIONS:  

Waiting for a Deceased Donor, Dialysis or Living donor?

• Waiting for a Deceased Donor...
  
• Not knowing when or if you will receive a donor, or how long you will be on dialysis.

• Waiting for a deceased donor can be very stressful and unhealthy.  Many people report becoming increasingly depressed.
• What kind of physical shape will you be in when/if you receive a kidney?  Will you be well enough to receive a kidney? What kind of a suitable match will you get?  Will your kidney be rejected?
  
• Many are not able to find a kidney in time.  Will you?


     Dialysis:

• Dialysis is considered mechanical and artificial life support when your own kidneys can no longer take care of your body's needs.  Although it will only do about 10% of the work that a functioning kidney can,  it is the only way to keep your body alive until you are able to find a kidney from a deceased or living donor.
  

•  Dialysis is a difficult, physically exhausting and emotionally draining process.  It consists of 3-4 weekly treatments when you spend up to 4 hours tied to a machine that filters your blood, frequently causing other serious health complications. People can be on dialysis for years and must always plan their time around the weekly treatments, and most report a poor quality of life.
  

• The longer the wait for a donor, the more the body continues to deteriorate, as well as increasing the risk of rejection upon transplantation. The less time spent on dialysis, the better the outcome.

• In New England, Region 1, right now, if you are first listed on the National Waiting List, you must be on dialysis before you can be on the Northeast Waiting List. However, new transplant allocations will be in place this December, 2014.
   
   Living Donation: 
  
  
• Living-donor kidney transplants are the most successful of all organ transplants.  Since everyone has two kidneys and only needs ONE,  it is also the most common transplant procedure.  There are numerous advantages for the recipient. 
  

• A  living kidney doubles the life expectancy compared to staying on dialysis treatment. 
  

• The best option by far is to have a pre-emptive transplant, which means getting as much life as you can out of your own kidneys and having the transplant before you get too sick.  This means that you may not need to go on dialysis, at all. 

   

•  Living Donation is the psychological benefit that goes hand in hand for both the donor and recipient, knowing you have both received a gift of love  and life.         

                 
         It's a win-win situation that will change both lives forever!   

                                     
                                     ARE YOU ON BOARD TO FIND A LIVING DONOR? 
                                                    READ ON...  
      
   
         "The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen."
                                                                                                                  Frank Lloyd Wright