You Can Help

At Our Daddy Needs A Kidney, we know firsthand that not everyone can be a living kidney donor.  So, we focus on raising awareness about kidney health, the impact of kidney disease as well as living kidney donation. Our mission is to educate the community about early detection and treatment options available for those affected by kidney disease and support those in need of a kidney transplant. If you or a loved one is going through a kidney crisis, maybe we can offer some guidance or  a listening ear from those who have been there and come out the other side.  Together, we can make a difference in the lives of individuals and families dealing with life-threatening kidney-related issues.

Living donation is a voluntary gift of one kidney (we only need one) by a person who is able. Donors are thoroughly tested to ensure a SAFE and HEALTHY outcome for both the Donor and the Recipient. Medical expenses, travel, lodging and time lost at work are typically covered.    

Want to find out if yuou can be somebody's lifeline?  Becoming a living kidney donor is a generous and life-changing decision, and many people are surprised to learn that they may be eligible to donate. Generally, a living donor must be in good overall health, free of chronic conditions like diabetes or uncontrolled high blood pressure, and between the ages of 18 and 70. 

Donors undergo a thorough medical evaluation to ensure they are a good match and that the donation will not compromise their own health. Some key criteria include healthy kidney function, no significant history of kidney-related diseases, and a stable lifestyle to support recovery after the donation.

Family members, close friends, and even strangers can become living kidney donors. Matching depends on blood type and tissue compatibility, but advancements in paired donation programs mean that even if you’re not a direct match, you can still donate and help save a life through kidney exchange chains.

If you’re considering becoming a donor, take the first step to learn more. You may discover that you have the opportunity to give someone the greatest gift of all—a second chance at life. While there are several transplant facilities around the country, our family's experience is with Mayo Clinic, and we are happy to guide you step by step, connect you with resources, find answers to common questions, and explore what it takes to become a living kidney donor.  Interested in becoming a donor?

· We are born with an extra kidney – you only need one to live a full, healthy, long life.

· The majority of the donor surgery is done laproscopically, with tiny incisions.

· The recuperation period is generally 2 weeks for those with a desk job and 6 weeks for those whose job entails heavy lifting.

· Most donors say if they had another extra kidney they would donate again in a heartbeat and that it is one of the best experiences of their life.

The evaluation process is meant to protect the Donor. It ensures that the Donor is healthy enough to donate a kidney. While there are inherent risks of living donation and with any surgery, the rigorous evaluation process provides a systematic way of determining any specific, known risks to Donors. 

When someone donates an organ to someone else, they are providing a life-sustaining gift. But there are many things they should consider carefully before making the decision to become a living donor. 

Imagine you have a lottery ticket in your pocket. It is a winning lottery ticket with a jackpot that is so valuable it is literally priceless, but only if you give it away to someone. The odds are very, very small that you would ever be able to use the lottery ticket yourself or even give it to someone you know. So what would you do? Would you keep the winning lottery ticket in your pocket your entire life, literally taking it to the grave? Or would you give it to a stranger and in doing so, dramatically change and perhaps even save their life?