March is National Kidney Month, dedicated to kidney health awareness and highlighting the critical need for kidney donors. According to the National Kidney Foundation, approximately 37 million Americans suffer from kidney disease, with increased risks among communities of color. Factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and family history significantly elevate the risk of developing kidney disease.
Dr. Anisha Shetty, Section Chief of Transplant Nephrology at Rush University Medical Center, emphasizes the benefits of living kidney donation. She explained that kidneys from living donors generally lead to longer lives and better outcomes for recipients compared to kidneys from deceased donors. Recipients often experience immediate kidney function after surgery, reduced medication requirements, and faster recovery.
Dr. Shetty also addressed common misconceptions about living donation. Many wrongly believe donors require lifelong medication, have permanent physical restrictions, or cannot have children. However, living donors typically resume normal lives, with some even climbing mountains, running marathons, or having children post-donation.
Finding donors remains particularly challenging in communities of color due to misconceptions, cultural factors, generational concerns, limited access to transplant education, and higher incidences of diabetes and hypertension.
To raise awareness and address these issues, Rush Transplant and the National Kidney Foundation will host “The Big Ask Big Give” event on May 17th. The free event will educate attendees on living kidney donation, using social media to find donors, and advocacy.
CBS meteorologist Ed Curran shared his personal experience as a kidney transplant recipient from his sister, highlighting her smooth recovery and emphasizing the profound, positive impact living donation has had on their lives.
