Living Donors Online Message Board

Living Donation Discussion and News => Living Donation Forum => Topic started by: ac711a on September 16, 2011, 08:31:58 PM

Title: the waiting game
Post by: ac711a on September 16, 2011, 08:31:58 PM

hi,

  I am going to donate a kidney to my mom throught the paired donation program at the U of M.  We have been waiting for two years now for a match.    They keep getting blood from me and it keeps coming back with no match.  The waiting is hard, even though my mom is doing fairly well on dialysis.  So how I was wondering how long others had to wait before they found matches?

Thanks,

Amy

Title: Re: the waiting game
Post by: BEC on September 16, 2011, 08:51:10 PM

Hello,

My situation was unique I believe. My ex-husband was told he needed a transplant, I was tested and we had the surgery three weeks later. So he had no wait time at all. I wish you and your mother the very best.

Title: Re: the waiting game
Post by: ac711a on September 16, 2011, 09:19:10 PM

wow,  you were very lucky.  thank you for answering

Title: Re: the waiting game
Post by: lawphi on September 17, 2011, 10:32:18 AM

What are your mother's antibody levels? 

My husband had high antibody levels and needed plasmapheresis to find a match. We found a paired exchange match after two and a half months at Johns Hopkins.

We waited for several years at a center that did not do pheresis that participated on a national exchange list. 

Title: Re: the waiting game
Post by: ohtobeahayes on September 19, 2011, 11:21:26 AM

The U of MN?  There are a few of us who have donated there.
I started a chain there, with the paired exchange program. 
The wait can be long, as you know, because the list is not as long. I'm not sure if they do the plasmapherisis or not there, that is definitely worth asking about!!!!
I am so sorry that it has taken so long. Please keep us updated.  I can't imagine what it's been like to be waiting so.
Much love to you and your mother!

Nicki

Title: Re: the waiting game
Post by: ac711a on September 24, 2011, 07:23:19 AM

actually at the university of michigan,  I haven't seen anyone else on here who dontated there.  I don't know what my moms antibody levels are, she is not very willing to talk about any of this.  I do know that her antibody level is what made the one hopeful chain fall apart.  I will ask about the plasmapherisis,  thanks