There are ultimately two types of living organ (kidney and liver) donation.
- Directed donation – In a directed donation, the donor chooses the recipient.
- Nondirected donation – In a nondirected donation, the recipient and the donor do not know each other. The donor chooses to donate a kidney or a portion of his or her liver to a person who needs it and is a “match.”
There is also "paired donation". This takes place when a person who needs a kidney or liver has someone who is willing and able to donate, but is not a match. With paired organ donation, two pairs of donors and recipients trade donations.
A living donor gives a profound and selfless gift. Knowing that he or she saved a life, and that his or her gift goes beyond the recipient to the recipient’s family and loved ones as well, creates a deep feeling of happiness and satisfaction – one that many living donors say never diminishes, no matter how much time passes.
How is living organ donation possible?
- Living liver donation is possible because the human liver regenerates (regrows). Doctors can take a portion of a healthy person’s liver and transplant it into a person whose liver is failing. The donor’s remaining liver grows back to normal size within a couple of months, and the recipient’s portion also grows to full size.
- Living kidney donation is possible because most people have two kidneys, and a healthy person only needs one. Although the donated kidney does not grow back, a single kidney can easily meet the body’s needs.
What are the benefits of living organ donation? Why should a person consider becoming an organ donor?
- Shorter wait time for a transplant – Once a living donor is found, the recipient can get a transplant in just a few months. In contrast, many people wait years for a new kidney or liver, getting sicker as time goes on. Some people (approximately 17/day) do not survive while on the transplant waitlist.
- Better outcomes – Because the transplant happens sooner, the recipient is healthier, boosting the odds of a positive long-term outcome after transplant. Living donors offer the recipient a higher-quality organ and overall better recovery.
- Great organ function – An organ from a living donor typically performs better than an organ from a deceased donor, increasing the recipient’s chance of making a full recovery.
- Other people on the transplant list have a greater chance of receiving a kidney or liver, because the living donation recipient is no longer on the list. This means the available organs in the United States can go farther, saving more lives.