Living Liver Donor Buddies

Below is the list of living liver donor buddies.

Please read these instructions first.

  1. Read the profiles below and identify the Living Liver Donor Buddy that best matches your needs.
  2. Click on the “Request Buddy” button beside the buddy you’d like to contact.
  3. Complete the request form and click “Submit.”
  4. You will receive a reply from LDO with the name and contact information for the Living Liver Donor Buddy you selected. (Note that the reply from LDO usually takes 24 hours but may take up to week.)
  5. Send an email to your Living Liver Donor Buddy to initiate contact.

If you are already a Living Liver Donor Buddy and wish to edit your entry, send an email to contact.livingdonorsonline@gmail.com with instructions on what information to change. Be sure to include your donor buddy ID number so we know which entry to change.

Donor Buddies

Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0023
Location: Fountain Hills, Arizona
Donation Date: December 18, 2003
Donated To: Friend (Adult)
Marital Status: Single
Donation Facility: Mayo Clinic Hospital Scottsdale
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: As a donor, I have had a very good experience with the center I went to where I felt that I received exceptionally good treatment. I am a very caring person and know the emotional ins and outs of being a donor.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0025
Location: Sterling Heights, MI
Donation Date: April 9, 1996
Donated To: Son (Child)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: University of Chicago Hospital/Wylers Childrens Hospital
Living Donor Training: Yes
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I would love the opportunity to talk to anyone who is questioning this awesome Gift of Life decision. I was a donor 9 years ago. My son was the 99th living donor recipient at U of C in IL. Please feel free to contact me.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0026
Location: Naples, NY
Donation Date: June 15, 2004
Donated To: Brother-in-law (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: Strong Memorial Hospital
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I had a very positive experience but I was also made aware of all the things that could possibly go wrong. I had my surgery within the last year and am current with the technology. I am a positive person and feel I have a lot to offer someone possibly going through this process. I know I sure could have used a buddy when I was going through all the testing!


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0033
Location: Williamsburg, Virginia
Donation Date: June 19, 2006
Donated To: Mother (Adult)
Marital Status: Single
Donation Facility: Medical College of Virginia
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Mostly positive
Donor Story: I have had a very positive experience and I know what you would be going through. I had an excellent support system and I would be happy to provide that for someone else.


Male

Request Buddy
Buddy L0035
Location: Baltimore, MD
Donation Date: May 1998
Donated To: Daughter (Child)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: Johns Hopkins
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Partially positive and partially negative, or neutral
Donor Story: I am honest about my experiences, and I understand the situation of a potential donor since I went through it myself.


Male

Request Buddy
Buddy L0044
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Donation Date: December 16, 1999
Donated To: Father (Adult)
Marital Status: Single
Donation Facility: University of Iowa
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Partially positive and partially negative, or neutral
Donor Story: I can share my experiences, answer any questions, an assuage any concerns about going through with the procedure, or choosing to not go through with it.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0045
Location: Medord, MA
Donation Date: September 9, 2009
Donated To: Sister (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: Lahey Clinic
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I am a mother of 4 who, with the support from so many, was able to give the gift of life to my sister by donating my right lobe. I would be happy share my experiences with someone who is thinking about being a donor.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0049
Location: Havre de Crace, MD USA
Donation Date: September 4, 2012
Donated To: Brother (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: New York Presbyterian/Columbia
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: My experience of being a Live Liver Donor was good as far as my surgery. Unfortunately my brother did not do so well. He passed away one month after our surgeries. This is not a common outcome and I do not not have anyone that can relate to my specific experience. I would like to buddy up with someone that either gone through it or I would like to help someone that may go through it at a later date.( the outcome is never known) As we all are told as donors there is that chance the recipient has major problems including death.


Male

Request Buddy
Buddy L0052
Location: Evanston,
Donation Date: April 10, 2013
Donated To: Father (Adult)
Marital Status: Single
Donation Facility: Global Hospital, India
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: Share experience.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0054
Location: Thompson, CT
Donation Date: May 10, 2011
Donated To: Brother (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: UMASS Memorial, Worcester, MA
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I believe organ donation is a selfless gift on the donor and families part. My experience was a positive one. My brother lived an entire extra year because of the transplant. I would do it all over again without hesitation.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0060
Location: Pennsylvania,
Donation Date: May 15, 2014
Donated To: Daughter (Child)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: PENN
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I would love to share my experiences with living donation. I had a very positive experience donating!


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0067
Location: , Colorado
Donation Date: October 27, 2003
Donated To: Friend (Adult)
Marital Status:
Donation Facility: UCLA
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Mostly positive
Donor Story: I remember how hard it was to find someone to talk to that had been through what I was endeavoring to do. I have now lived through the donation and the recent death of my friend. It feels like a full circle, and I would be happy to share my experiences.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0069
Location: Australia,
Donation Date: August 5, 2007
Donated To: Nephew (Child)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: Royal Alfred Hospital Sydney
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: Every experience is different and I am happy to share my experience in a way that may assist someone who is going through a similar situation. I have previously assisted a woman (through email only) who was considering donating a part of her liver to a friend. We exchanged emails and experiences. I was very careful Not to provide advice, but to carefully listen to what she was expressing and empathise in a correct manner. Although her situation was different, she told me that my emails helped her.


Male

Request Buddy
Buddy L0073
Location: Cloverdale, CA
Donation Date: October 2, 2014
Donated To: Friend (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: UCSF
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: Being two years post op and having had a positive outcome I feel I have what it takes to help someone with questions and concerns.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0076
Location: ,
Donation Date: 01/14/2020
Donated To: Mother (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: University Transplant Hospital
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I feel like I could help by letting others know what I went thru. It's still very fresh for me. I don't know anyone personally that I can ask for help because I'm the only person I know who's donated a liver. If there are others like me out there I'd like to be of use or see what they can help me with. I wouldn't trade this for the world.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0079
Location: , Mississippi
Donation Date: 11/10/20
Donated To: Mother (Adult)
Marital Status: Single
Donation Facility: Methodist Le Bonheur Memphis
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Partially positive and partially negative, or neutral
Donor Story: I work in the medical field and I can provide useful tips on things they can buy or do that can make their recovery easier. Also, I genuinely like to help people. Facing my mom's illness and coming to the decision to be a donor was the most surreal feeling and I would have loved to have had a buddy to talk to about it.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0059
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Donation Date: September 30, 2014
Donated To: Uncle (Adult)
Marital Status: Single
Donation Facility: Toronto General
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I have been through this and had an amazing experience. I know how scary being a donor can be and have the ability to discuss my personal experience.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0027
Location: Arizona,
Donation Date: February 4, 2005
Donated To: Step Daughter (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: Mayo Clinic Hospital, Scottsdale, AZ
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Mostly positive
Donor Story: I would really like to help someone who is either thinking of donating part of their liver or who is currently testing to be a living liver donor. My experience is recent, and I can offer an honest explanation of my entire process. It was recommended to me to obtain many different experiences from other living donors, and I would like to offer my experience as so many wonderful people helped me while I was going through the process.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0092
Location: Sarasota, FL
Donation Date: April 12, 2005
Donated To: Father (Adult)
Marital Status: Single
Donation Facility: Lahey clinic
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I donated many years ago and wish I had a living donor buddy at the time. It was a fairly new procedure back then, so I didn't really have anyone that had gone through it speak to. I'm open for any questions that anyone would want to ask as I had a positive experience, but it can be scary as well.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0074
Location: Cranberry Township, PA
Donation Date: July 26, 2018
Donated To: Step dad (Adult)
Marital Status: Single
Donation Facility: UPMC Montifiore Pittsburgh - Starzl Clinic
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: Very open and honest about everything. Ask me any question!! I'll probably tell you more than you really want to know. I HATE needles and doctors, but my experience was amazing and I would do it again in a heartbeat.


Male

Request Buddy
Buddy L0096
Location: Leroy, NY
Donation Date: 5/17/21
Donated To: friend (Adult)
Marital Status: Single
Donation Facility: Cleveland Clinic
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I was 58 when I donated and am still physically active. I can ease any concerns of people who think a donation will set them back physically.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0036
Location: Duluth, MN
Donation Date: January 14, 2003
Donated To: Father (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: Mayo Clinics, Rochester, MN
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I can offer insight to what it is like to go through a LDLT. I am an active person, I run, love outdoor activities and I love life. Life is a gift to be able to give that gift to someone who is in need is a wonderful thing. It is a life changing experience. You need to be sure of your self and what you are doing. Making an educated and informed decision is the best way to enter this type of situation and I can offer my experience to help others.


Male

Request Buddy
Buddy L0070
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Donation Date: April 18, 2014
Donated To: Mother (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani, Mumbai India
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Mostly positive
Donor Story: Having gone thru the experience of what it takes to be a living donor, the joys knowing you were able to save a life, post-operation struggles and how to overcome them, pains, side effects, frustrations of losing your stomach figure but living with a battle scar to be proud of and always willing to show it off and tell people of the experience.


Male

Request Buddy
Buddy L0072
Location: North Branford, CT
Donation Date: July 24, 2012
Donated To: Local Family Friend (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: Yale New Haven
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I have talked to several potential donors that have became donors over the past five years. I feel I can help potential donors understand the emotions beyond that of the the physical pain from the donation


Male

Request Buddy
Buddy L0094
Location: Alderson, WV
Donation Date: August 28, 2023
Donated To: Unrelated (Child)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: UVA Medical Center
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: Becoming a living donor was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It was not always easy but I have not once regretted my decision. If I could be of any help to someone discerning becoming a living donor, I absolutely want to do so.


Male

Request Buddy
Buddy L0040
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Donation Date: September 21, 1998
Donated To: Brother (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: William Bowles, Memphis, TN
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Partially positive and partially negative, or neutral
Donor Story: I have a good understanding of what to expect and not to expect. I can offer reassurance and comfort and the joy of helping to save a life.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0007
Location: Dousman, Wisconsin
Donation Date: October 1, 2001
Donated To: Brother (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: University Hospital Wisconsin
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I would like to help others; to relate the donation process, emotions and questions. I feel very positive about living donation. I found it most helpful to be able to talk to other people. I believe knowledge is sharing.


Male

Request Buddy
Buddy L0038
Location: Ontario, Canada
Donation Date: March 7, 2007
Donated To: Brother (Adult)
Marital Status: Single
Donation Facility: Vancouver General
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Mostly positive
Donor Story: I am a living liver donor. Sharing my experiences will help you to be more comfortable with your own decisions about the surgery.


Male

Request Buddy
Buddy L0056
Location: Barrie, Ontario Canada
Donation Date: March 17, 2014
Donated To: Father (Adult)
Marital Status: Single
Donation Facility: Toronto General Hospital
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: Another donor helped me through my process with all the questions I had and I found it extremely helpful and relieving. I would love to be able to have the same impact on someone going through their process of becoming a potential donor.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0037
Location: Cambridge, Ontario Canada
Donation Date: September 13, 2004
Donated To: Brother (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: Health care facility at which I donated
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: Having gone thru a living related liver donation myself gives me tremendous insight into what a donor is going thru prior to their surgery. I would like to impart any pearls of wisdom I have acquired on this journey.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0031
Location: Marina Del Rey, CA
Donation Date: November 16, 2005
Donated To: Father (Adult)
Marital Status: Single
Donation Facility: Mayo Hospital, Scottsdale, AZ
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Mostly positive
Donor Story: I am a loving and vibrant 31 year old woman who loves the lord with all her heart and will listen. This is a huge choice and should not be made without a proper supportive environment. A donor must be complete in all areas of his/her life prior to becoming responsible for being a living donor.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0064
Location: Poway, CA
Donation Date: August 12, 2015
Donated To: Dad (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: UCSD Hillcrest
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I had the best experience: from the moment my family inquired about the possibility of live donation through my surgery and recovery. I work in the medical field so my understanding of medical terminology is a bonus. I can provide true and honest answers to inquiries. I had worries and fears as did my husband, dad and rest of my family.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0046
Location: Corsica, SD
Donation Date: September 10, 2009
Donated To: Aunt (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I wish I had had someone to ask questions to prior to my surgery. I would like to be that person for another living donor.


Male

Request Buddy
Buddy L0041
Location: Hampton, VA
Donation Date: May 4, 2009
Donated To: Unrelated (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: VCU
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I have donated both a kidney and a portion of my liver. Both experiences were very positive. I have done a lot of research as well. I would be more than happy to answer any questions regarding kidney donation and/or liver donation.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0095
Location: abingdon, maryland
Donation Date: August 15, 2023
Donated To: My Father (Adult)
Marital Status: Single
Donation Facility: University Of Maryland
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I would love to be a living donor buddy to share my experience with people who are also in the same position as I was or my recipient, I want to spread the word of donation and how wonderful it is to help save a life. I want to guide people who are afraid or have questions.


Male

Request Buddy
Buddy L0083
Location: Park Ridge, IL
Donation Date: 4/16/2019
Donated To: Parent of a student (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: Northwestern in Chicago
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I have a wife and family I'm a pastor I love listening


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0081
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Donation Date: Kidney - August 2019, Liver - October 2020
Donated To: Strangers (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: Kidney - Ohio State, Liver - Cleveland Clinic
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I have donated both a kidney and a portion of my liver. I donated both altruistically so I could speak about that experience with a potential donor. I had really positive experiences with my donations and have become very passionate about organ donation. I am happy to share anything I can about my experiences and support a potential living donor through their process.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0042
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Donation Date: February 28, 2002
Donated To: Father (Adult)
Marital Status: Single
Donation Facility: Univeristy of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I donated a portion of my liver to my father in 2002 after being told that my father would die on the wait list. My father was hospitalized for 51 days following his transplant so I also have a perspective of how things can go wrong and I am an LPN currently in my junior year at KU for my BSN hoping to be a transplant coordinator.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0084
Location: Greensburg, PA
Donation Date: October 21, 2018
Donated To: father in law (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: UPMC
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I'd like to help someone through the process of deciding whether to donate, or the journey of donating.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0090
Location: Boise, Id
Donation Date: 3/29/2023
Donated To: Coworker (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: Intermountain Health- Utah
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I am 45, have asthma, passed all the pre testing and was able to donate 65% of my liver to my coworker. I think I can provide a realistic perspective on what to expect recovery wise. It took me the whole 90 days to be fine to feel whole again.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0034
Location: Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
Donation Date: December 11, 2006
Donated To: Unrelated (Adult)
Marital Status: Single
Donation Facility: VCU Medical Center
Living Donor Training: Yes
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I donated one of my kidneys for a humanitarian donation at UW Madison in 2004. I was asked to be a mentor for their kidney program and have been working with potential donors going through the process at UW. I have just recently donated my right liver lobe for a humanitarian liver transplant at VCU Medical Center (MCV Hospital) in Richmond, VA. I also have signed up to the A2ALL long-term living liver donor research project of which MCV is one of nine participating liver transplant centers across the US.


Male

Request Buddy
Buddy L0055
Location: Cary, IL
Donation Date: March 3, 2014
Donated To: Niece (Child)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: Northwestern
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: Understanding of emotional rollercoaster that occurs with decisions, the resolve it takes to move forward, and the rewards as a result.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0011
Location: Baltimore, Maryland USA
Donation Date: November 17, 2002
Donated To: Nephew/Godson (Child)
Marital Status: Single
Donation Facility: Emory University/Egleston
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Mostly positive
Donor Story: I am a recent living donor, having gone through the experience just two months ago. My decision to be a living donor was made quickly and under extremely difficult conditions as my nephew was critically ill and had little time. I have had a wonderful experience and would like to share it with others and provide support to others in the process of making a decision or otherwise.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0021
Location: Green Bank, WV
Donation Date: December 14, 1999
Donated To: Fiance at the time, now my husband (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: We were one of the first non-related opposite gender adult-to-adult living liver surgeries in the USA. We both came through remarkably well. We both give talks and mentor people pre-and post-transplant.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0085
Location: Reno, NV
Donation Date: 06/10/2021
Donated To: Father (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: UCSF
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Mostly positive
Donor Story: 47 yer old RN - donated 67% of liver to dad with liver cancer (HCC). Overall good experience, but unfortunately cancer has now spread to lungs. Would still do it again in a heartbeat. Happy to share my experience.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0013
Location: Lancaster, PA USA
Donation Date: March 5, 2002
Donated To: Unrelated (Child)
Marital Status: Single
Donation Facility: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I had an excellent experience. I donated to a complete stranger and the outcome was extremely successful. I feel competent to talk about the testing and procedures as well as the emotional struggles associated with donation.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0028
Location: Barrie, Ontario Canada
Donation Date: November 23, 2005
Donated To: Brother (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: Toronto General Hospital
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: My experience was very positive and rewarding. Live liver donation is fairly new and I feel my views and opinions could help others considering donation.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0065
Location: Albany, New York
Donation Date: 03/27/2019
Donated To: unrelated (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: Lahey Hospital and Medical Center
Living Donor Training:
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I would love to be able to serve as a mentor and support to people considering living donation or in the process of donating. I have a Master of Divinity degree and am currently taking a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at Albany Medical Center, so I have experience and training in chaplaincy/pastoral care in a healthcare setting.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0089
Location: Temple, TX
Donation Date: May 22, 2023
Donated To: Father (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: Baylor University Medical Center
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I'm a recent donor for my father. I'm someone who thinks about all options. I understand the fears and risks the donors take and the feeling of being able to save the life of someone you know.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0093
Location: Temple, TX
Donation Date: 5/22/23
Donated To: Dad (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: Baylor University Medical Center
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I have newly been through the process. As we all know medical procedures and processes change, being a donor (only 7 months post), my experience regarding testing, the approval process, surgery and recovery will most likely be similar to others newly thinking about the process. I am a 41 year old wife and mother, and had to consider my family as I decided to be a donor. I know many mothers have hesitated and worried due to having families.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0087
Location: Atlanta, Ga
Donation Date: 7/18/22
Donated To: Mother (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: UPMC
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Mostly positive
Donor Story: I had a buddy for my surgery last year and it really helped me! I want to return the favor.


Male

Request Buddy
Buddy L0078
Location: Pueblo, CO
Donation Date: February 11, 2014
Donated To: Wife (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: UCH
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I remember how nerve racking it was not knowing what to expect. I read everything I could find about liver transplants, my doctor and surgeon. But still felt a bit unprepared. But I don't think there is anything that could really prepare you for such an experience. All in all I had a good experience. I do think having someone to talk to would have helped with pre-transplant nerves. Although I did not feel compelled to talk to anyone, I know others will. Having gone through it myself, I would be happy to speak to anyone looking to risk their own to help another.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0091
Location: Haymarket, VA
Donation Date: 4/11/23
Donated To: Unrelated (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I am able to provide support to potential donors by answering questions surrounding the logistics of donating as well as the positive impact it had on my own life and my recipient. I did not originally know my recipient and can speak to the experience of sharing this journey with a stranger. I can also simply lend an ear to someone who needs to process through their worry or concern.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0097
Location: Haymarket, VA
Donation Date: 4/11/23
Donated To: Unrelated (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: MedStar Georgetown
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Mostly positive
Donor Story: I feel I can provide both support and knowledge to a potential donor. While I do not have formal training in the context of donation, I do have formal coaching and mentoring training in the context of my career (school principal). These skills coupled with my journey of donation may be useful to a potential donor as I strive to provide information and clarity to them. Additionally, I was recently approved to donate my kidney and will be participating in a paired exchange. My unique experience of having completed the donor evaluation process twice and at different medical facilities (MedStar for liver and Inova for kidney) may be useful for others considering or starting this journey.


Male

Request Buddy
Buddy L0048
Location: Dallas, TX
Donation Date: July 21, 2009
Donated To: Sister-in-law (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: NYC Columbia-Presbyterian
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: While my experience was very positive, I am aware of others that were not. I am able to give different perspectives of the experience, combined with the understanding that in the end, this is a very personal decision - which only the person considering can understand.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0047
Location: Holland Landing, Ontario
Donation Date: November 3, 2008
Donated To: Cousin by marriage (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: University Health Network
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I'm willing to answer any questions a potential donor may have.


Male

Request Buddy
Buddy L0077
Location: Rancho Cordova, California
Donation Date: June 30, 2020
Donated To: Sister-in-law (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: UCSF
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Mostly positive
Donor Story: I am kind, friendly, helpful, and I enjoy talking with others. I am married & have young kids. I believe that God had a huge role in my decision to donate & that I received great amounts of help from Him throughout the process. I donated in the midst of the COVID lock down, so I can also relate to anyone experiencing similar complications.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0082
Location: Brooklyn park, MN
Donation Date: 12/2/19
Donated To: Sister (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: UPMC
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: My situation was a bit unique. I was evaluated at one center (Rochester Mayo) and ended up donating at UPMC. This was across the country from my home in Minnesota so required determining logistics of travel and recovery time. I also donated with 3 small children at home (2,3,&5) which I know comes up frequently as a concern. Open to sharing my experience both positive and negative. While physically my surgery was a great success as was my experience with UPMC there was plenty I was unprepared and surprised by.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0088
Location: Gurugram, HR
Donation Date: 12th October 2022
Donated To: Ex husband (Adult)
Marital Status: Not disclosed
Donation Facility: Medanta, Gurgaon , India
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Mostly positive
Donor Story: I have lived the experience and the potential donor can connect well with me.


Male

Request Buddy
Buddy L0071
Location: Kalpetta, Kerala
Donation Date: June 1, 2015
Donated To: Father (Adult)
Marital Status: Single
Donation Facility: Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences, Calicut, Kerala
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Partially positive and partially negative, or neutral
Donor Story: I donated my liver to my father a couple of years ago, when I was 21, and I hope that I would be able to help and pass emotional strength by sharing my experience to those who are to going be organ donors. And yes, I believe that sharing is caring 🙂


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0075
Location: Jericho, VT
Donation Date: July 22, 2019
Donated To: unrelated (Adult)
Marital Status: Single
Donation Facility: UPMC Montefiore
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I have been through the experience of being evaluated at a hospital to which I had to travel quite a distance; I was evaluated both as a liver donor and as a kidney donor; I was able to take part in a clinical study as part of my experience; I have done extensive research about living organ donation and am a member of online groups that have been very helpful in my own process. I believe that the best decisions are made when we feel informed. One way to be informed is to have open communication with others who have already gone through this process.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0086
Location: Parkston, SD
Donation Date: 02/07/2023
Donated To: Altruistic Donor (Adult)
Marital Status: Single
Donation Facility: University Health Transplant Institute
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I spent a year and half before being accepted as a living donor educating myself on the process of donation and surgery; as well as, caring for transplant patients before and after their transplants. I continue to provide care for transplant patients post-donation and am on my second year as an intern with a kidney and pancreas transplant team. I am deeply passionate about the field and am dedicating my life to walking patients through such a vulnerable journey and ensuring that they are educated on their health and are receiving the best care that can be provided to them!


Male

Request Buddy
Buddy L0017
Location: London, Ontario Canada
Donation Date: May 27, 2002
Donated To: Brother-in-law (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: University of Alberta Hospital
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: Being able to talk to someone who has gone through a living liver donation will help someone understand what is involved, what to expect and ultimately decide if it is something they wish to proceed with. The more you know in advance the better prepared a person will be to deal with their initial decision to donate as well as having a realistic perspective on the post-surgery recovery. Knowledge helps demystify the entire organ donation process.


Female

Request Buddy
Buddy L0080
Location: Denver, Iowa
Donation Date: 10/21/2019
Donated To: Mom (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: Mayo Clinic - Rochester, MN
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Mostly positive
Donor Story: I am relatable and honest. I can give good information as I did a lot of research before surgery and all very knowledgeable.


Male

Request Buddy
Buddy L0068
Location: Mechanicsville, VA
Donation Date: April 15, 2009
Donated To: Parent (Adult)
Marital Status: Married
Donation Facility: MCV/VCU
Living Donor Training: No
Donor Experience Rating: Very positive
Donor Story: I was asked to be a donor in 2009 because I was a perfect match for my mother. At the time I had one child and my wife was working to complete her Masters degree. It was a tough thing to do and I made it just fine. I think that I could offer good advice to anyone riding the fence on making a decision to become a living donor.