Become a Living Donor

Most organ donations come from people who have passed away. But did you know you have the power to save a life by donating an organ while you’re still alive? A living person can donate a kidney, lobe of a lung, portion of the liver, pancreas, or intestine to give the gift of life to someone who is on the waiting list for an organ transplant. This helps to reduce the waiting time for the recipient and decreases chances of a patient dying while on the waiting list. Living donors are able to resume their lifestyle shortly after surgery. Nevada Donor Network supports and encourages saving lives through living donation.

The most common living donation procedure is kidney donation, which can be facilitated through the UMC Center for Transplantation.

Dot

Benefits of Living Donation

Donating an organ to a person on the waiting list may save a life. Transplant can greatly improve a recipient’s quality of life. Living transplants usually last longer than transplants from a deceased donor.

Types of Living Donors

  • Living Related Donor: A blood relative of a person waiting for a transplant

  • Living Unrelated Donor: A person who is emotionally/personally connected to the person who is waiting for a transplant

  • Non-Directed or Altruistic Donor: A person who volunteers to donate an organ to an unknown recipient

Cost of Donating

Costs associated with medical testing and physician appointments are covered by the recipient’s insurance. Travel and other costs may be covered under the National Living Donor Assistance Center. Transplant centers can provide more information about costs.

The Donation Process

A transplant center will perform initial screening to ensure that the potential donor does not have health issues that would make it unsafe for a living donation.