Best intentions

I started this blog with the best intentions, but I didn't realize how busy I would be.  I'm sorry my post are sporadic.

Continuing with what we learned at the transplant class.  Blood type matters and can make a huge difference in how long it takes to get a transplant.

AB patients can get a kidney from a AB, A, B, or O donor (they have the shortest wait)
A from A, AB, or O donor
B from B, AB, or O donor
O from just O donors (they wait the longest)

There are other markers that they match, the patient who is in the top few on the list and gets closest to all the markers has first option at the kidney. 

The wait varies from hospital to hospital.  You can be placed on the list for more than one hospital, which does increase your chances.  At the hospital we are hoping to work with, the wait for an O patient is 8 years.  We were told that AB patients can receive one in just a few weeks.

If you have friends or family that want to donor, but their blood type isn't compatible to you, there is an option of a group swap, where they match several donors, with several patients, so don't give up hope if they have a different blood type!