Patients can receive a kidney transplant from the national waiting list or from someone they know.
We know many people live a normal life with only one kidney. A transplant from a family member or friend is considered to be the best possible type of transplant – this is known as living kidney transplant.
The kidneys are expected to last longer and work more efficiently. The surgery is also planned in advance so you have prior warning of when it is taking place.
If you are interested in donating a kidney to someone you know, your blood group and tissue type needs to be compatible with theirs.
You will need to complete a detailed health assessment to be considered as a donor.
Contact the living donor nurse for more information:
Email: BCU.LivingKidneyDonorTeam@wales.nhs.uk
Phone: 07974418832
If you are not compatible with someone you wish to donate your kidney to, you may want to consider donating into the kidney sharing scheme. This is where you would be matched with another donor recipient pair in the same situation - your kidney would go to someone else in return for your family member/friend to receive a kidney from someone else.
Further information about donating your kidney can be found on the NHS Organ Donation website.
A person who donates one of their kidneys to someone they do not already know is called a non-directed altruistic kidney donor. Find out more information on the NHS Organ Donation website.
The following stories are from people who have received a living kidney donor transplant, including how they found a living donor, what they experienced during their transplant journey, and how their transplant has changed their lives.