Living Organ Donors Answer Frequently Asked Questions

Living organ donation is often the best option for patients waiting for a transplant, offering better outcomes and a faster recovery. People who receive a living donor transplant also avoid waiting on the national transplant list for a deceased donor organ to become available.

At University Health Transplant Institute, living donors can give a kidney or part of their liver to someone in need, either as a directed or a non-directed donation. A directed donation means the organ goes to a specific person. A non-directed donation, also called an altruistic donation, means the organ goes to someone the donor does not know.

There are many myths and misconceptions about organ donation. Living donors from our Champion Ambassadors program shared their personal stories and experiences donating at University Health Transplant Institute.

What Inspired You to Donate?

Living donors have many reasons for choosing to donate. Some begin the evaluation process hoping to help a specific person, while others choose to donate altruistically to help anyone in need.

For Julie Malone, a fellow parishioner happened to strike up a conversation with her at church one day. “He mentioned he was waiting on a kidney, and he said these magic words: ‘And my time is running out,’” Julie said. “I thought, ‘Well, I’ve got a kidney. I can do it. I can help him.’”

Dr. Kelley Hitchman, a kidney donor and University Health employee, was motivated to help her community. “I was really inspired to donate by our patients, specifically our Hispanic population, because they experience more disparity on the waitlist than a lot of other folks do,” she said. “It was very important for me to have my kidneys stay in the community where I felt like it was most needed.”

Did You Have Doubts or Apprehensions About Donating?

Some donors experience hesitation during the evaluation process or in the days leading up to surgery. But they emphasized that there was never a good enough reason not to donate if they were able.

“I had a lot of people ask me, ‘Why are you doing this?’ And I have the same response, ‘Well, why not?’” said Stephanie Lomuscio, a living liver donor. “I was in a perfect position to do this. I work from home. I don't have children of my own. I really felt in my heart that it didn't matter what anybody said to me, I was going to do it.”

Becky Gallagher, a living kidney donor, said, “There was definitely some apprehension. People asked, ‘What happens if your daughter needs a kidney, what if something happens to you?’”

But Becky said she thought of the woman who would receive her donated kidney and that woman’s family. “Well, what's going to happen to this other child or this other mother? If I don't step forward, who's going to do it for her?”

What Is Recovery Like?

Recovery is different for each organ. Kidney donors tend to have a quicker recovery – about four to six weeks. Liver donors may take up to eight weeks to recover.

Your return to work depends on the type of job you have. People with office jobs or the opportunity to work from home may return to work sooner than those who must be on their feet most of the day.

Organ donation is a major surgery. Like any surgery, there are risks. Donors may experience:

• Pain
• Trouble sleeping
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Constipation

Severe complications are rare but may include:

• Infections
• Blood clots
• Bleeding
• High blood pressure
• Bile leaks (for liver donors)

However, after recovery, donors return to their normal lives and can be as active as they were before surgery.

Can You Control Who Receives Your Organ?

Not always. While you can intend to donate to a specific person, testing may show that you and your intended recipient are not a compatible match. In those cases, you may participate in a paired exchange. This way, your organ goes to a compatible recipient and your intended recipient receives an organ from another donor. This is very common and allows more patients to receive life-saving transplants.

Living Liver Donor Eligibility

• Be between the ages of 18 and 60 years old
• Go through an evaluation and testing process
• Have a stable living situation with family or social support
• Be in good health with no chronic health conditions
• Understand the risks and possible complications of liver donation
  
  

Living Kidney Donor Eligibility

• Be between the ages of 21 and 70
• Go through an evaluation and testing process
• Have a stable living situation with family or social support
• Have good overall mental and physical health
• Understand the risks and possible complications of kidney donation

Even if a living donor is not compatible with their family member or friend, they can still donate to someone else. Living donors at University Health have participated in three-way, four-way, and even larger donor chains. The transplant team will find a way to pair donors with the people who need organs.

“There are a lot of misconceptions about what makes a good donor-recipient pair,” Dr. Hitchman said. “You do not have to be related to donate to somebody, and even if you are related to somebody, you might not necessarily be the best donor for that person.”

“Isn't it a wonderful thing to let people know that they matter, and they don't have to be your brother or grandparent or child or best friend to matter and have a right to a quality of life?” said Dr. Hitchman.

Can You Donate More Than One Organ?

Yes, you can donate one kidney and part of your liver, though not at the same time.

Kym Rakowitz altruistically donated a kidney in December 2021. “The next day after donating my kidney, I woke up and said, ‘I'm going to donate my liver.’ That’s what's next for me because this was a breeze,” she said.

In June 2023, she donated 67% of her liver to someone she didn’t know. “I love to share my story,” Kym said. “People are amazed that you can even be a living donor, let alone be a double living donor.”

Do You Meet the Person Who Received Your Organ?

You can, if both parties agree. University Health hosts transplant reveals where donors and recipients meet for the first time.

“I've met both of my recipients, and I am very, very close to my kidney recipient,” Kym said. “It's so overwhelming to see the good that we put back into the world and to people that we don't even know.”

What Do You Wish You’d Known before Donating?

“I think University Health did a wonderful job educating us on what to expect as best that they could,” Becky said. “But I think what I was missing was that one-to-one mentorship of someone sharing what their experience was like.”

Our Champion Ambassadors program helps fill that gap. Champion Ambassadors are living donors who volunteer to share their experiences, answer questions and guide others through the process.

They offer real-life insight into what to expect before, during, and after donation, helping individuals feel informed, supported, and confident in their decision.

Individuals interested in connecting with a living donor can contact Shanna Puente, assistant director of the Champion for Life program at University Health Transplant Institute.

Become a Living Donor at University Health

Living donors are revolutionizing organ transplants and saving lives. Learn how you can be part of something bigger than yourself with University Health by becoming a living donor.

Champion for Life Program

If you are exploring living organ donation, whether for yourself or someone you love, having the right information and support can make all the difference.

Through our Champion for Life program, we support patients and their families in learning how to share their story, raise awareness and find a living donor.

We provide the tools, education and guidance needed to help patients feel confident and supported throughout their journey.

To get started with the Champion for Life program, email ChampionForLife@uhtx.com.