This is the first time I have posted here, but I have done lots of reading and gotten lots of useful information, thank you.
I went through all the screening to become a non-directed kidney donor. All my numbers came back very good. Physicaly, there is nothing stopping me from donating. I just got a letter saying I was not accepted due to anxiety and also due to the short time since my wifes transplant.
My wife received a kidney/pancreas transplant a year ago. She has had a rough time and has spent lots of time in the hospital since then for other things, but her new organs are working perfectly. The last few months have gone very well for her and she is doing much better now than she has in many years.
I tried to donate a kidney to her several years ago but I am the wrong blood type. Since then I have had it in mind to still donate a kidney to someone. This is something I really wanted to do and I thought now was a good time to do it. Kind of took the wind out of my sails to be turned down. I can understand their thinking that my wife may need me, I told them that she was my first priority. Still, after spending the last three or four years on the wait list and caring for my wife, I have time to do this now. There are lots of people waiting that don't have that much time.
The anxiety part is a little harder to understand. I remember telling them that it was difficult when my wife was in the hospital, when you get a phone call in the middle of the night saying your wife just had a cardiac arrest it does cause some stress. If anything I think that has made me a better candidate. After what we have been through, donating a kidney won't be that hard.
They did leave the door open to try again in a year, and it is nice to know that they are looking out for us. Anyway, it helps just to write this down and get it out. I'll let you know how it goes a year from now.