![]() “With a paired kidney transplant, one incompatible donor-pair is able to give a healthy kidney to a compatible recipient. “Paired donor exchanges allow us to cast a much wider net to find compatible donors and recipients,” says Newell. While most kidneys from deceased donors function well, studies have shown that a kidney from a living donor, either a blood relative or an unrelated person, provides the greatest chance for long-term success. Donated kidneys also come from recently deceased donors. The procedure is another form of living donor transplantation. In paired donation, a donor and recipient are matched with another incompatible donor and recipient and the kidneys are exchanged between the pairs. According to Kenneth Newell, MD, director of Emory’s living donor program, a paired exchange donation allows healthy individuals to donate a kidney to either a friend, loved one, or even altruistically to a stranger, despite incompatible blood matches. The Emory Transplant Center created and opened its innovative Paired Donor Kidney Exchange Program in 2009, providing greater hope for patients in need of kidney transplants. Transplant recipients, donors and family talk about the miracle of a six-person paired kidney transplant - known colloquially as a "kidney swap." The operation took place in Atlanta and involved Emory Healthcare and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. This is an updated report from July 25, 2007.Best Gift - A Kidney The Best Gift: Six-Person Paired Kidney Transplant With new donors signing up to give the gift of life, the hope among doctors and patients lives on - that this cascade of lifesaving miracles, sparked by one selfless act of kindness - will continue to inspire others and live on indefinitely. "I just think of her as someone that I love." "I don't even think of it, that she has my kidney," Bunnell explained. The chain of donors all attended Jones' wedding, and describe one another as family. The chain has not only brought many back to health but has built life-long bonds. "I don't want her to pay me back," Bunnell said after donating. "There are not even words to say how thankful I am," she said to Bunnell, the man she calls her "guardian angel." She has new dreams and ambitions for the future. "Maybe we can get it down to 15 a day, then 10 a day and maybe we can get enough chains going so no one is dying every day."įor Heckman, her transplant marked a new beginning she is now enrolled in college, studying to be an ultrasound technician. ![]() "Eighteen people die a day because they didn't get a transplant," Jones said. Jones, whose single donation triggered this movement to donate, also holds high hopes for future success. "My hope is that we will get 3,000 kidney transplants a year someday on top of what we already have," Rees said. Since the program began last year with Jones, 67 transplant programs across 22 states have begun to participate, and 30 additional programs are in partnership talks with the organization. That means fewer life-threatening complications, and more lives saved.Īnd a kidney from a living donor, as opposed to a cadaver donor, will also last longer - 16 years, as opposed to eight, according to Rees. While a family member is usually the best match, doctors said in some cases a stranger can be an even better match. "If you're willing, we're going to get you a transplant." "The future that I see in America is there will no longer be such a thing as a willing incompatible donor," said Rees. Michael Rees, medical director of the Alliance for Paired Donation. "The simplest way to explain it is 'paying it forward' when it comes to organ transplantation," said Dr. Barrett is the latest link in a parallel chain of donations. ![]() Sarvo, Heckman's mother, who was not a match for her daughter, gave her kidney to another perfect stranger two months later - touching off a chain of six more transplants. Her husband, Ron Bunnell, who was not a suitable donor for his wife, was perfect for Heckman in Toledo. In this case, the computer matched Jones, who lives in Michigan, with Barbara Bunnell, from Arizona. A computer program connects donors and kidney patients nationwide. A potential donor who wants to give a kidney to a friend or loved one but is not a biological match can now be paired with an appropriate recipient. This first chain of transplants is not only the result of amazing generosity but of something called paired donation. "He gave me my daughter back for a long time to come," she said. "This is the first day of the rest of her life," said Laurie Sarvo, who nervously paced around the room during her daughter's surgery last year. He's just passing it on," she said, her eyes welling with tears. "We don't know each other, and he wants to help so his wife could be well. ![]()
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