HOUSTON, Texas (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Last year, the number of living kidney donors was roughly four times less than that of deceased donors – they may hesitate because of fear or post-op health concerns. But a new organization, called “Dove,” is recruiting more living donors for U.S. veterans who need kidney transplants.
David Hardaway was having coffee with a friend when luck sat down right next to him – while David, a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, was sharing his urgent need for a kidney, his friend told him about a donor program exclusively for veterans.
Jenny Pan, MD, at the Houston V.A. Living Donor Kidney Transplant Program, explains, “Through the ‘Dove’ program, we are able to bring in these donors and evaluate them to see if they are a candidate for kidney donation.”
“Dove” pairs veterans with living kidney donors and David is the first recipient in the Houston V.A. program. His new kidney was donated by Amanda Houlton, whose brother was a vet who died from renal disease.
“She felt like it was her calling to still donate to someone — another veteran in need,” Dr. Pan says.
For David, it came just in time.
“Getting a kidney, for me, changed that period to a coma, to my wife of 38 years. I have two daughters, one son, one daughter that is disabled, and they were impacted because they’re happy to have me around for a few more years,” he expresses.
Living donors are preferred over deceased donors because it reduces the recipient’s time on the waiting list, the new kidney usually functions immediately and, on average, will last 15 to 20 years.
Dr. Pan adds, “It’s been a blessing for our veterans who’ve done so much for their communities, and live a fuller and longer life.”
Dr. Pan says you may donate a kidney as early as 18 years old, but most centers require a donor to be at least 21. Optimal health is essential, so you may not be obese, have uncontrolled diabetes or high blood pressure, and must not smoke. See dovetransplant.org for more.
Contributors to this news report include: Donna Parker, Producer; Bruce Maniscalco, Videographer; Roque Correa, Editor.
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Sources:
https://www.organdonor.gov/learn/organ-donation-statistics/detailed-description
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8844293/
MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS
RESEARCH SUMMARY
TOPIC: DUTY CALLS: RECRUITING KIDNEYS FOR VETS!
REPORT: MB #5317
BACKGROUND: Kidney donation is a medical procedure in which a healthy individual voluntarily donates one of their kidneys to another person in need. This act of generosity can significantly improve the quality of life and, in some cases, be life-saving for the recipient. There are two primary types of kidney donations: living kidney donation and deceased kidney donation. Living donation occurs when a living person donates an organ to someone. The living donor can be a family member. Living donations are preferred over deceased donations because they reduce a recipient’s time on wait list, the new kidney usually functions immediately, and, on average, will last 15 to 20 years. Nearly 100,000 people are waiting on a kidney transplant but 30 percent of donor kidneys are discarded every year.
(Source: https://www.kidney.org/transplantation/livingdonors/general-information-living-donation
DIAGNOSING: Diagnosing issues related to a kidney transplant involves a combination of clinical assessments, laboratory tests, imaging studies, and close monitoring of the recipient’s overall health. The goal is to ensure the transplanted kidney functions properly and to identify any signs of complications or rejection. Laboratory testing of a transplant candidate is extensive and recipients will need routine monitoring, blood pressure monitoring, laboratory tests, kidney biopsies, imaging studies, functional tests, immune monitoring, and long-term follow-up. Early detection and intervention are vital to preserving the health of the transplanted kidney and ensuring the well-being of the recipient. Regular communication and collaboration between the transplant recipient and their healthcare team are essential for successful long-term outcomes.
NEW TECHNOLOGY: Researchers from Northwestern University have developed the first electronic device for regularly monitoring the health of transplanted organs in real time. The device sits upon a transplanted kidney and the ultrathin soft implant can detect temperature irregularities associated with inflammation and other body responses that come up with transplant rejection. It next alerts a patient or physician by wirelessly streaming data to a smartphone or tablet device.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT, PLEASE CONTACT:
Sharyn Kreitzer
sharynkreitzer@dovetransplant.org
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