Living Donor Day is Wednesday, April 5, 2023. It’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the lifesaving gifts made by living kidney donors.
Living organ donors can save the lives of family members, friends or even strangers. Last year, 6,466 people in the U.S. became living organ donors. Most of them — 5,863 to be exact — gave a kidney.
A kidney from a living donor offers patients an alternative to years of dialysis and time on the transplant waiting list. The living donor’s remaining kidney will increase in size, doing the work of two healthy kidneys.
This year, we're highlighting the story of Melanie Motz. When a Lake View neighbor was in need, Melanie chose to become a kidney donor, something she calls the best decision of her life. Watch Melanie's story below, or listen on the latest episode of the Kidney Conversations podcast.