My brother waiting for transplant

[canuckmel]

Hello,

I am here to find out information on ways to help my brother find a kidney faster. He has been on dialysis for almost 6 years and it doesn't look like he'll be finding a kidney anytime soon, he's young 34. He has O negative blood so he can only accept an O- kidney and every other kidney patient can accept an O- so he's the last to get one. The estimated wait is 10-12 years right now in BC.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

[Marina]

I know how frustrating it is to see a loved one waiting for a TX and to know the wait is long and there's nothing you can do.
My brother awaits a kidney, in this area for a type 0- is 5-7yrs.

I'm not familiar with the rules or protocols in BC but is there a friend or family member willing to donate?

I have heard of people finding a donor on Facebook, although I don't know if I recommend going that route.

Wishing your brother my best!!

[sharon4495]

My 32 year old son began dialysis last week. He has been a type 1 diabetic since the age of 8. His doctors are putting him on the transplant list for a kidney and a pancreas. Anyone out there in the same situation? How long is the wait? I know it is not a quick thing...

[megan_barnes]

Sharon it's really dependent upon blood type and area. My husband was a type 1 diabetic since age 11 and had one Christmas day 2011 at age 34. His blood type is A. He got on the list in November (but started accruing time July 2011) and was transplanted Christmas day. He waited less than six months. He was listed in the Northern California region. Best of luck to your son. Also you can send me messages with any questions you have about the process or anything else and I'd be happy to answer. My husband's three months post transplant now and going back to work in a week. I've been there done that with the SPK transplant stuff.

[bjhehlke]

I feel for all of you. I am 48 , female from Quad Cities. Been on transplant list for 11 years. Also O-. Had a transplant in 98 that lasted till 01. Now because of having so many antibodies, it is gonna be a long wait. Have had 2 sons and 4 sisters try. No matches or they had health problems preventing them from donating a kidney. I am on 2 transplant list. One in Iowa and the other in Wisconsin. Get your story out. You never know. Stay strong.

[chumphrey2]

I also had antibody rejection back in 08, did plasma ferusu for a whole year with steroids. I got evaluated for being listed in Pittsburgh today. They assured me I would not have an issue getting on the list but are nervous about my past anti body rejection. Is there anything they can do to suppress the anti bodies? Is the theory if you get a really good match anti bodies are not as likely? Sorry for all the questions the doctors today where talking about the different grades of kidneys you can get. Like a grad A would a young healthy donor where as a C would be a older adult with some health issues. Are you more likely to get a lower grade kidney due to having a history of rejection?

[Marina]

chumphrey2,

I'm sorry to hear you lost your kidney.
Was the plasma pheresis done for the first kidney or to get back on the list ?

I didn't know they classified/grade kidneys in that manner.
They do offer ECD (expanded criteria donors) kidneys to patients who are 55 or older.
Although some patients are encouraged to registered to receive an ECD TX to avoid the long wait.
My brother's dr recently suggested to him to change his listing from "standard" to "ECD" transplant because his wait can be up to 8yrs.

The transplant coordinator MUST tell you if the kidney is either "ECD" or "high risk" donor, at the time you receive an offer.
Of course, you can always ask at the time you receive a call.

http://cjasn.asnjournals.org/content/4/11/1827.full
ECD= Expanded-criteria donors (ECDs) refer to older kidney donors (≥60 yr) or donors who are aged 50 to 59 yr and have two of the following three features: Hypertension, terminal serum creatinine >1.5 mg/dl, or death from cerebrovascular accident. By definition, ECD kidneys have a 70% greater likelihood of failure compared with one from a 35-yr-old male donor who died from a motor vehicle accident. Donation after cardiac death (DCD) is a small but rapidly growing fraction of donors. An ECD kidney transplant recipient has a projected average added-life-years of 5.1 yr compared with 10 yr for a kidney recipient from a standard-criteria donor. Kidney transplantation from DCD seems to have similar allograft and patient survival compared with kidney from donation after brain death; however DCD transplantation has a 42 to 51% risk for delayed graft function (need for at least one dialysis treatment during the first week after transplantation) compared with 24% in an standard-criteria donor kidney transplant.

[RobertGibson420]

I know how annoying it is to see a family member awaiting a TX and to know the delay is lengthy and there's nothing you can do.I be familiar with of individuals discovering a contributor on Facebook or myspace, although I don't know if I suggest going that path.

Wishing your sibling my best!!

[nishi64]

waiting for last 3years too. its very frustrating but have to be patient .
motivation keeps me going ,myhusband and children keep memotivated.

[JasonEdwards38]

BC and Ontario have the longest waiting times in Canada. If you don't want to wait, I'd suggest moving somewhere with a much shorter wait time. I know it's not easy to move, bit this is someone's LIFE we're talking about.