DANVILLE, Pa. — There are currently more than 92,000 people in the United States waiting for a kidney transplant. April is National Donate Life Month, a time to spread awareness about organ donation and honor those who gave the gift of life.
The living donor program is a good option for people who are waiting for a kidney. According to doctors at Geisinger, it's a safe option for both parties. You must be in good health to be a living donor.
"As much as we're concerned with the recipient, we're even more concerned with the living donor, that person who is willing to donate. Very often, we have to say no, even though they really want to, because we are very concerned about their long-term health," said Dr. Michael Marvin, chair of the Department of Transplantation and Liver Surgery at Geisinger.
Dr. Marvin says potential kidney donors undergo both physical and mental tests to make sure they're a good fit, adding that kidney donation surgery is minimally invasive and recovery is easy.
"Most of our living donors go home in one day. They're in the hospital a very short period of time. They do beautifully," Dr. Marvin said.
When people choose to donate their or their loved one's organs after they die, they can save a lot of lives. There are not as many guidelines for deceased donors.
"You can be diabetic. You can have high blood pressure. You can have heart disease and be 70 years old. That's for the liver as well. For the liver. You can even donate up until the 80s," Dr. Marvin said.
Dr. Marvin says it is safe to live with one kidney. Your remaining kidney will compensate for the loss of the other one.