[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/11\/living-donor-champion-qualities\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/11\/living-donor-champion-qualities\/","headline":"4 Qualities to Look for in a Living Donor Champion","name":"4 Qualities to Look for in a Living Donor Champion","description":"A living donor Champion is a person who takes responsibility for finding a living donor. To learn more about the Champion\u2019s role, visit UPMC.com\/LivingDonorChampion.","datePublished":"2019-11-11","dateModified":"2024-07-24","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/transplant","name":"Transplant Services","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/transplant","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/transplant-services\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/champion_blg.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/champion_blg.jpg","height":327,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/11\/living-donor-champion-qualities\/","about":["Living and Wellness","Transplant"],"wordCount":749,"articleBody":"A living donor transplant is a life-saving option for the thousands of people waiting for a liver or kidney transplant. However, if the idea of asking someone to be your living donor is too nerve-wracking to consider, you need a Champion.What to Look For in a Living Donor Champion\u201cThe Champion is a person who takes responsibility for finding a living donor for the recipient. The Champion can use multiple tools while searching for a donor for their loved one or friend,\u201d explains Swaytha Ganesh, MD, medical director of UPMC\u2019s Living Donor Program.When identifying your Champion, look for someone with certain qualities needed to take on this task, including:PersonalityTo find a living donor, your Champion needs to share your story far and wide. When you\u2019re identifying a Champion, think of people in your life who have no trouble starting conversations with strangers and reaching out to people they don\u2019t necessarily know well.\u201cWe went out there and asked anyone with an unselfish desire to save a life: \u2018Please help us, please contact us,\u2019\u201d says Grace Battles, who was the Champion for her husband Doug.Your Champion probably won\u2019t be approaching people on the street to share your story. But Champions who are comfortable putting themselves out there may have an easier time discussing a topic as serious and important as a living donation.HonestyYour Champion will need to be honest about your situation. People may not fully understand what is going on or how important it is that you find a living donor. If your Champion can convey the seriousness of the situation, potential donors may be more willing to step up.Living donation is a major surgery and there are risks associated with being a living donor. The transplant team will do everything possible to minimize those risks. Your Champion should be comfortable talking about how the transplant team will help donors. \u201cWe do multiple medical tests and scans to make sure donors are in the healthiest possible state to donate and to minimize the risk much as possible,\u201d explains Abhinav Humar, MD, chief of transplantation, UPMC.But being honest isn\u2019t just about explaining the negatives. Your Champion should also explain what a huge impact a living donor can have on another person\u2019s life. Many living donors report that donating was one of the most meaningful experiences of their lives.A Willingness to LearnMany people are unfamiliar with transplantation, and most likely your Champion will be too. Since potential donors will ask questions about the procedure, it\u2019s important for Champions to learn how a living donor transplant works.It\u2019s also important for your Champion to know the best ways to find a donor. You and your Champion can attend a Champion workshop to learn more about living donation and how to identify suitable living donors.\u201cWhat changed her mind was the program at UPMC,\u201d says living-liver donor Erica Drew on how the Champion program helped her mom come to terms with Erica donating to her dad. \u201cThey held a living donor workshop last summer that educated her more on being a living donor. She just didn\u2019t know much about it.\u201dOptimism Being a Champion isn\u2019t always easy. It may involve hours spent identifying potential donors only to learn none are suitable matches \u2014 or struggling to find any potential donors. Staying positive and never giving up is extremely important because you are relying on them. \u201cI was getting very nervous as the Champion, because I didn\u2019t know what I would do if I couldn\u2019t find a donor,\u201d says Champion Pam St. Clair, just before she found a living-liver donor for her husband, Joe.It’s okay for Champions to get discouraged, as it can be a difficult process. Make sure your Champion knows it\u2019s okay to take a break to reflect on why they are doing this. Open and honest communication with you is important so both of you can remain hopeful even when times are tough.The most important thing is for your Champion to be ready and willing to take on this task. As long as that person is dedicated to finding you a living donor, your Champion will be perfect for you.If you have already identified a Champion, encourage them to visit Facebook.com\/LivingDonorTransplant to join the Champion Support Group.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on November 11, 2019, and was last reviewed on July 24, 2024."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2019","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"11","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/\/11\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"4 Qualities to Look for in a Living Donor Champion","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/11\/living-donor-champion-qualities\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]