Living Kidney Donor
For people with kidney failure, a transplant can be life-changing, but the wait can take years.
In the United States, patients often wait six years or more for a deceased donor kidney. Living kidney donation offers a faster, life-saving alternative.
At the University Health Transplant Institute, living donors help patients receive kidney transplants sooner, often helping them avoid years on dialysis and improving long-term outcomes.
We’re also a national leader in living donor kidney transplants for children, giving young patients a second chance at life.
What Is a Living Kidney Donation?
Living kidney donation is when a healthy person donates one of their two kidneys to someone in need of a transplant. Because the body can function normally with one healthy kidney, donors can go on to live full, active lives.
The need for kidney transplants continues to grow, and there are not enough deceased donors to meet demand, making living donations a critical option for many patients.
A kidney from a living donor often:
- Starts working right away
- Lasts longer than a deceased donor kidney
- Leads to better long-term outcomes
We use advanced techniques like robotic-assisted surgery to help make living kidney donation less invasive and support faster recovery for donors.
Types of Living Kidney Donations
You don’t have to be related to make a life-saving impact.
- Direct donation: Donate to a specific person
- Paired donation: Help your intended recipient by matching with another donor/recipient pair
- Non-directed donation: Donate to someone you don’t know
Kidney Paired Donation
If you’re not a match for your intended recipient, paired donation offers another path.
University Health is the only transplant center in San Antonio participating in the national paired donation program through United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), helping more patients receive life-saving transplants.
Become a Living Donor
Start the living donor process by completing a donor health history questionnaire.
FAQs About Living Kidney Donations
What are the risks of being a living kidney donor?
While all surgeries carry some risk, your safety and well-being come first. We carefully evaluate every donor and provide clear, personalized guidance so you feel informed and confident about the process, recovery and your long-term health.
Does insurance pay for living kidney donors?
Because every plan is different, we recommend checking with your insurance provider to understand your coverage better. Our transplant team can help guide you through the process and answer any questions about coverage.
There are also resources that provide financial support to living donors, such as the National Living Donor Assistance Center (NLDAC).
These programs are designed to reduce financial barriers so more people can consider living donation without added financial stress.
Who can be a living kidney donor?
Many healthy adults are eligible to donate a kidney.
You may qualify if you:
- Are between the ages of 21 and 70
- Are in good physical and mental health
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Have a stable support system
Who cannot be a living kidney donor?
Not everyone is eligible. You may not be able to donate if you have:
- Certain chronic conditions (such as uncontrolled diabetes or high blood pressure)
- Kidney disease or related health concerns
- Conditions that increase surgical risk
What is the recovery time for a kidney donor?
Recovery varies, but most donors return to normal activities within several weeks and continue to make a full recovery.
Looking for a Living Donor?
You don't have to wait on a single list. Refer yourself for a living liver transplant.
How to Become a Living Kidney Donor
Your journey starts with a simple first step.
You will:
- Complete a confidential donor questionnaire
- Participate in a screening call
- Undergo medical and psychosocial evaluation
- Make an informed, voluntary decision
Why Choose University Health?
Our commitment to patients goes beyond surgery — it’s reflected in the outcomes we achieve.
Our kidney transplant program consistently achieves outstanding results, as reported by the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR).
Recent highlights include:
- Higher-than-average 1-year patient survival rates for both living and deceased donor kidney transplants (99% vs. 97% nationally)
- 100% patient survival at 90 days following living donor kidney transplant
Our Advanced, Minimally Invasive Surgical Approach
We use advanced technology to make living kidney donation as safe and minimally invasive as possible.
Our surgical team uses the da Vinci® Robotic Surgical System to perform living donor kidney procedures. This allows surgeons to operate through small incisions with enhanced precision and a high-definition 3D view of the surgical area.
For donors, this approach may offer:
- Shorter recovery times
- Less post-operative pain
- Minimal complications
- Faster return to normal activities
As the only transplant center in South Texas offering this advanced robotic technology for living kidney donation, we can provide a more precise, patient-centered surgical experience.
University Health’s da Vinci ® Robotic Surgical System was funded by University Health Foundation and its generous donors.
Your Living Donor Coordinator
You won’t go through this process alone.
Your dedicated living donor coordinator will guide you every step of the way, answering questions, coordinating care and ensuring you feel informed and supported.
Individualized Donor Support
You’ll have access to:
- One-on-one conversations with previous donors
- Transplant social workers
- Your surgical care team
You can choose to stop the process at any time, and your privacy is always protected.
Take the First Step
At University Health, we’re here to help you explore your options, understand the process and decide if donation is right for you.
Hear directly from living kidney donors about their experience and what it meant to give the gift of life.
