What are the benefits of participating in an exchange program?
Receive a kidney sooner, maybe before requiring dialysis
Receive a living donor kidney, which on average lasts longer than a deceased donor kidney
Receive a better matched kidney, which would potentially require fewer drugs and last longer
Provides a very rewarding experience for the donor since multiple families are helped by the donation
Can I join the program even if I have a compatible donor?
Yes, even if you have a compatible donor, you and your donor can join. In fact, the program may enable you to receive a kidney from a younger donor, or a better matched kidney.
Some donors, especially those with O blood types, may want to participate because of the opportunity to help more than one recipient.
Can the exchange families meet?
Once the transplant has taken place, if the other patients agree, you will have the opportunity to meet the other families involved in the exchange.
How do we get started?
Interested donors may contact our program by telephone at (310) 267-6907 or by completing a Living Donor Intake Form below and faxing it back to (310) 983-3628 for review by our Living Donor Team.
