[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/01\/fitness-after-living-transplant\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/01\/fitness-after-living-transplant\/","headline":"Fitness Before and After Living Donor Transplant","name":"Fitness Before and After Living Donor Transplant","description":"Clay Moorefield has always been dedicated to exercise and fitness. But when he found out his best friend Omar Foster needed a kidney transplant and was searching for a living donor, he realized just how important a healthy lifestyle can be. \u201cI prayed on it, researched the impact it would have on me, and considered […]","datePublished":"2020-01-03","dateModified":"2022-04-25","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\/10\/Clay-moorefield-6.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Clay-moorefield-6.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/01\/fitness-after-living-transplant\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Transplant"],"wordCount":463,"articleBody":"Clay Moorefield has always been dedicated to exercise and fitness. But when he found out his best friend Omar Foster needed a kidney transplant and was searching for a living donor, he realized just how important a healthy lifestyle can be.\u201cI prayed on it, researched the impact it would have on me, and considered my children and family. Once I knew I could still live a healthy life with one kidney, I volunteered,\u201d says Clay.Becoming a Living DonorThe health and safety of living donors is very important. To ensure that becoming a living donor is safe, the transplant team will evaluate your overall health, as they did for Clay.During a living donor evaluation, you undergo a stress test to see if you are physically healthy enough to become a donor. Your medical history is evaluated, as well as your emotional readiness to donate. You also are required to have a caregiver and a support system to help you through recovery.Potential living donors should:Be 18 to 75 years of age (for kidney donors) or 18 to 55 years of age (for liver donors)Have no history of:Heart diseaseLiver disease, including cirrhosis and hepatitis B and CDiabetesHIVCancer or other diseases that could complicate surgeryBe in generally good health\u201cTo me, being healthy is about taking complete care of yourself mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It\u2019s about having the right individuals in your life and taking care of your external and internal health.\u201dThanks to his lifelong commitment to physical and emotional health, Clay was in perfect shape to become a living donor. He also happened to be an excellent match for Omar.Exercising After Living DonationAfter living donor surgery, it\u2019s very important to follow your doctor\u2019s instructions when it comes to exercise.While in the hospital, you will need to rest. But short walks through the halls with assistance from a caregiver can help speed up your recovery.Once you are discharged, you may be allowed to take walks around your neighborhood. For at least six weeks after surgery, you should not lift more than five to 10 pounds. You should also continue to eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables.Clay and Omar were cleared to go back to the gym after about two months and began working out together regularly.\u201cIt\u2019s been more than a year since I became his donor and I\u2019ve been completely cleared by the doctors, am in excellent health, and feel amazing \u2013 not just physically but also in knowing that I gave someone another chance at life!\u201dTo learn more about living donation, visit UPMC.com\/LivingDonorEditor's Note: This article was originally published on January 3, 2020, and was last reviewed on April 25, 2022."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2020","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"01","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/\/01\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Fitness Before and After Living Donor Transplant","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/01\/fitness-after-living-transplant\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]