[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/11\/tell-your-living-donor-story\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/11\/tell-your-living-donor-story\/","headline":"Finding a Living Donor: How to Tell Your Story","name":"Finding a Living Donor: How to Tell Your Story","description":"If you have end-stage kidney or liver disease and are exploring living donation, you\u2019ve probably gotten a lot of advice about finding a donor. One piece of advice seems simple but may be harder to do than you expect: to find a living donor, you need to tell your story. You know your story better […]","datePublished":"2019-11-21","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\/09\/LDLT_blg.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/LDLT_blg.jpg","height":1408,"width":2000},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/11\/tell-your-living-donor-story\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Transplant"],"wordCount":734,"articleBody":"If you have end-stage kidney or liver disease and are exploring living donation, you\u2019ve probably gotten a lot of advice about finding a donor. One piece of advice seems simple but may be harder to do than you expect: to find a living donor, you need to tell your story.You know your story better than anyone else, so it should be easy to tell, right? But sometimes it\u2019s hard to figure out exactly what to say to potential donors. Telling your story may make you feel like you\u2019re asking too much of others, or it may make you feel vulnerable.Whether you\u2019re asking for help on social media or in person, you\u2019ll be better prepared if you write things down.Below you will find tips to keep in mind while writing your story \u2014 and examples of what to say. If you still have difficulty, try writing the story from a family member or friend\u2019s perspective.Set the Tone of the ConversationA transplant is a serious procedure, and the conversation should reflect that. While you do need to be careful not to frighten a potential donor, you also want to be honest and help them recognize that what you are going to say is important. Here are a few examples:\u201cOkay, here goes \u2013 a life-changing request. You all know my dad, but you may not know that he has been extremely sick.\u201d\u201cThis is a big request, and I know that, but it\u2019s something I need to share. For those of you who don\u2019t know, I have suffered from kidney disease my whole life.\u201dYour Diagnosis Is Important, but so Are YouYou may be suffering from end-stage kidney or liver disease, but your diagnosis does not define you. Your story should explain your situation and why you need a transplant as well as who you are as a person. You want potential donors to see that they have a chance to save a life. Things you might say:\u201cMy mom has suffered from diabetes her whole life, but she is much more than her disease. She is a mother, a friend, a teacher, and the list goes on. But today she needs your help.\u201d\u201cAs many of you know, I am a husband and a father of a beautiful family. What many of you don\u2019t know is that I am also in need of a life-saving liver transplant.\u201dLiving Donor: When Is Just as Important as WhatNot everyone will understand the seriousness of your situation. Share this urgency so that those you talk with will recognize that it is a time-sensitive matter. Sharing how long you have had the disease or how long you\u2019ve been waiting or will have to wait for a deceased donor organ can get your message across. Words that can help you frame your comments include:\u201cI have suffered from polycystic kidney disease my entire life, but it has reached the point that I need a transplant to survive without dialysis.\u201d\u201cWe need to find my sister a suitable donor as quickly as possible. She could wait years on the liver transplant waiting list, but she might not reach the top of the list in time.\u201dA Call to Action for a Living DonorEven if you don\u2019t want to ask someone directly, be sure to share resources on how to become a living donor, other ways to help you for those who aren\u2019t able to donate, and how to contact you. Chances are someone will step forward to help without being asked. Here are some suggestions:\u201cI am determined to beat this, but I need your help. If you want to learn more about living donation, send me a private message.\u201d\u201cWhether it\u2019s being evaluated as a potential donor or sharing this post, we need all the help we can get. Reach out to me or any other family member if you\u2019re interested in learning more about living donation.\u201dWhile these are all great suggestions for helping you write your story, it\u2019s most important to stay true to yourself. Use this as a guide, but be sure to personalize your story and tell it your way. Once you start telling your story, it will get easier.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on November 21, 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":"Finding a Living Donor: How to Tell Your Story","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/11\/tell-your-living-donor-story\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]