Getting started
If you are a kidney patient considering transplant therapy, you need to start looking for a donor now. Below are four steps to get started on your donor search.
If you live in the Seattle area and would like to meet with me to develop a donor search plan, send me an email at gtaniwaki77(at)hotmail.com. I was a nondirected donor at University of Washington Medical Center (UWMC) and am most familiar with their transplant program, but have some familiarity with the programs at the other local hospitals (Swedish Medical and Virginia Mason) as well.
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1. Develop your 30 second storyWhenever someone asks you how you are, tell them (not yet posted) Amazing thing happen if you just speak up (5/2010) |
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2. Appoint a kidney matchmakerFind a person who is not a potential donor who can help you with your search (not yet posted) |
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3. Use a daily ritualDevelop a set of daily habits to help keep you focused on your search (not yet posted) |
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4. Don’t stop lookingUntil your transplant is completed, keep searching for potential donors (not yet posted) |
Publicity ideas
Below are a dozen ideas on how to publicize your search to find a donor using traditional media, social media, and news stories. These are just starting points. You may have other ideas. Drop me an email to share your ideas.
The following methods are listed in order of likelihood of success when focused effort is used (+++=highest to +=lowest), cost per impression ($=lowest to $$$=highest), and by personal effort required (E=lowest to EEE=highest).
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Distribute calling cardsPrint a set of business cards with details on how to get tested as a donor. Hand them out to everyone you meet (11/2013) Success rate = +++, Cost = $$, Effort = EEE |
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Send letters and emailsCraft a letter or email campaign to your friends, family, coworkers, and everyone else you know (11/2011) Success rate = +++, Cost = $, Effort = E to EEE |
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Engage social mediaSpread your story using a Facebook page, a Twitter account, a blog, and a personal website (1/2013) Success rate = ++, Cost = $, Effort = EEE |
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Contact the news mediaGet a local newspaper, radio, or TV station interested in organ donation and tell your story (5/2013) Success rate = ++, Cost = $, Effort = EEE Submit a letter to the editor (7/2013) |
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Host an eventHost a get together of close friends and family to discuss your situation (not yet posted) Success rate = ++, Cost = $$ to $$$, Effort = EEE |
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Post an ad on CraigslistCompose a classified ad and post it on Craigslist (8/2011) Success rate = +, Cost = $, Effort = E |
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Post flyers on message boardsGet permission to post a notice at work, church, and local venues (11/2013) Success rate = +, Cost = $, Effort = EE |
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Yard signsPost a sign on a busy street (9/2019) Success rate = +, Cost = $ to $$, Effort = EE |
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Vehicle signsPost a sign on the side or back of your car or truck (not yet posted) Success rate = +, Cost =$ to $$, Effort = EE |
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Post a video on YouTubeCreate a compelling video and post it on YouTube (1/2013) Success rate = +, Cost =$ to $$$, Effort = E to EEE |
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Rent a billboardA billboard will attract attention from anyone walking or driving by (7/2019) Success rate = +, Cost = $$ to $$$, Effort = EE |
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Join Matching DonorMatchingDonors.com is a fee-based matching service for kidney patients searching for a donor (9/2009) Success rate = +, Cost = $$$, Effort = E |
Related information
Technical information and information about being a donor.
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About kidney exchangesGlamour magazine featured kidney exchanges in its March 2010 issue (2/2010) |
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Many patients never look for live donorSome thoughts about why many patients never consider the live donor option and never begin a search (12/2009) |
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Kidney transplant surgery step-by-stepUniversity of Washington Medical Center live-tweeted a kidney transplant (1/2014) |
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Kidney donor guideI was a nondirected kidney donor in 2010 and documented my journey (11/2007) |
Resources to develop a donor search plan
Below is a list of resources that patients can use to develop their donor search plan. Most of these organizations also have a Facebook presence.
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Living Kidney Donors NetworkHarvey Mysel conducts webinars for patients who want to develop a Kidney Kampaign, see especially the LKDN Resource Guide, on pages 30-33 |
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Living Kidney Donor SearchSuzanne Kloss is a licensed social worker who provides advice and manages a website where patients can post their story |
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TransplantFirst AcademyRisa Simon is a speaker who promotes pre-emptive transplants. She is the author of Shift Your Fate, a book of advice on being a proactive kidney patient |
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Living Donors OnlineLDO provides advice and support for potential donors and current living donors LDO on Facebook (a closed group) |
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Explore TransplantAmy Waterman provides kidney care specialists with training and resources to encourage patients to pursue transplant therapy |
Real Numeracy 
May 13, 2020 at 7:53 am
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