Dear "Murgie",
As you keep reading up about living kidney donation (including the past posts at this forum and at the "living donation in the news" section) you will see that living kidney donation is pretty safe, and it is reasonable to expect a full recovery. However, you will also see that SOME living donors have had serious short-term or long-term medical complications, and there have been some deaths in donation surgery. It is MAJOR SURGERY, so there is always the possibility of something going wrong. So although the risk appears to be statisticaly small it does have to be taken into consideration. So it would be wise to read up extensively before making a decision.
Two other things to keep in mind:
--- A LOT can be done to help those in need of transplants by promoting after-death organ donation. There are still many people who have not signed permission for after-death donation, often because they are not really well aware of the need. So even if you decide to not donate at this time, you can do much to help in other ways. The National Kidney Foundation (
www.kidney.org) is one group that promotes organ donation awareness.
--- if you do decide to donate, you need not necessarily be a "match" for your intended donor. Groups such as
www.kidneyregistry.org maintain a nation-wide data base to arrange "swaps" for people who wish to donate but are incompatble with their intended recipient. You could donate to a stranger, while that stranger's incompatible donor donates to your friend. (The kidneys can be safely transported inter-State, so the donors need not have the surgery at the same place as the recipients.)
So, take your time and get well-informed. This site is a good spot both for reading up on living donation and posting particular questions.
Since my own donation (11 years ago, at age 56) went fine for me I have to resist the temptation to just say "Don't worry. Go ahead", but I know from readings and conversations that not all donors have had a good an experience as I had.
best wishes,
Fr. Pat