Swaytha Ganesh

Every day, thousands of people around the country wait for a life-saving transplant. But for those waiting for an organ, the process can feel like an emotional and physical rollercoaster — one that often includes uncertainty, anxiety, and fear. Yet, there is hope, and it comes from an extraordinary act of kindness: organ donation.

I have witnessed the transformative power of organ donation. It is not just a medical procedure — it is a life-altering gift that can change the course of someone’s life in unimaginable ways.

The Need for Organ Donors

In the United States alone, more than 100,000 individuals are currently waiting for an organ transplant. Unfortunately, the number of available organs is far less than the demand. This gap between the need and the supply of organs leads to thousands of preventable deaths every year. The need for more organ donors is critical.

While many people are familiar with the concept of deceased organ donation, fewer realize that living individuals can also donate certain organs, most commonly a kidney or a portion of the liver. Living donation is a selfless and powerful choice that allows donors to help save the lives of people they may not even know. The recovery for living donors is generally swift, with most returning to their normal lives within a few weeks to months.

The Impact of

Living Donation

Living organ donation is a powerful way to impact someone’s life. For a patient in need of a kidney, a living donor provides them with a gift that can allow them to live without dialysis, a process that can be physically draining and emotionally taxing. With a living liver donation, a patient who may be suffering from liver failure can regain their health and vitality in a way that allows them to live without the constant threat of their condition worsening.

The ripple effect of living donation reaches far beyond the donor and the recipient. Families are kept intact, children can continue to grow up with both of their parents, and individuals have the chance to live out their dreams and passions. The stories of people who have been positively impacted by organ donation are countless. For every transplant recipient, there is a donor who has made that second chance possible.

The Medical Process

of Living Donation

Becoming a living organ donor is a decision that requires careful thought and consideration. If you’re considering donation, the first step is to reach out to a transplant center where you can undergo a thorough medical and psychological evaluation. This ensures that you are a good candidate for donation and that it is safe for you to proceed.

For kidney donation, the process is relatively straightforward. A single kidney is removed and transplanted into a recipient, and the remaining kidney continues to function normally. For liver donation, a portion of the liver is removed, but the organ has an incredible ability to regenerate and compensate. Over time, and approximately 8 to 12 weeks later, both the donor’s remaining liver and the recipient’s new liver grow to full size.

How You Can Help

Organ donation is not just for those who are directly impacted by it — it’s for all of us. If you are considering living donation, I encourage you to take the time to research and speak with your healthcare provider. Consider registering to be a deceased organ donor as well.

Even if you’re not in a position to donate, you can still make a difference. Raise awareness about the need for organ donation, encourage your loved ones to become registered donors and advocate for policies that help improve access to transplants for all.

This Donate Life month, discuss your wishes for organ donation with your family and take the step to register as a donor. To one day give the gift of life, register to become an organ, eye and tissue donor at UPMC.com/DonateLife. You can learn more about Transplant Services at UPMC by visiting UPMC.com/Transplant.

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Swaytha Ganesh, M.D., is the medical director of the UPMC Living Donor Program. She is renowned for her clinical expertise in treating a wide range of patients with liver disease and is committed to raising awareness of living-donor liver transplantation. Her passion is to continue to grow the field of Living donor liver transplant. Her areas of research include evaluating patients with liver disease, assessing their eligibility for living donor surgery, managing patients on the waiting list, and developing disease management protocols in post-liver transplant patients with metabolic syndrome, hyperlipidemia, and systemic hypertension.