Did you know? The Liver regenerates!
Most liver transplant patients can't afford to wait on a list for a cadaver liver. Share My Liver focuses on igniting connections for living donor liver transplants and is the only organization designed to help metastatic colorectal cancer patients pursuing a liver transplant.
The ShareMyLiver.org Mission
Make living liver transplants accessible for eligible patients.
Help recipients find their living donor.
Raise awareness on how to become a living donor.
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Become a Living Donor
Share My Liver
Are you ready to save a life by being a living donor? Our mission is to ignite connections between donors and recipients. Our hope is that you may be able to save a diseased liver or metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patient's life by donating part of your liver. Many patients have to find their own living donor as they may die waiting for a deceased donor and most mCRC patients don't qualify to be on the donor list.
What you'll find here:
A place to register as a donor, searcher, or recipient to share your information: open the form
An overview of the liver donation process with Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Get the Facts
Donor and Recipient stories and information about those in need: Read More
Resources and Tools (Coming Soon)
We are thrilled you are here and excited to have you learn more about the living donor process. Please reach out through our Feedback tab if you have any questions or ideas.
Being a Living Donor
There is a belief that a donor must be deceased but in reality, the option of a living donation is one we are creating awareness of here.
A Few Facts:
Every 9 minutes, another person is added to the waiting list.
17 people die every day waiting for an organ transplant.
Every donor can save 8 lives and enhance over 75 more.
The liver is one of the few organs that can regenerate. It usually takes about eight to ten weeks for it to grow back to full size.During a living-donor liver transplant, a portion of the liver from a healthy donor is removed and transplanted into the recipient.The potential donor is carefully evaluated before the surgery to determine if he or she can tolerate the operation, and if the one in need will benefit from the donor liver.
Some Organ Donation Facts
In 2021, over 40,000 transplants were performed. There were 11,891 people on the liver donor waiting list with 9,236 transplants performed.
90% of adults support organ donation but only 60% are signed up as donors.
Not everyone who registers as a donor is able to donate. In fact, only 3 in 1,000 people die in a way that allows for deceased organ donation. That’s why more willing donors are needed.
You are never too old to save lives as a donor. One donor gave the gift of life by sharing his liver when he was 95 years old.
About 6,000 living donations take place each year, which is 4 out of every 10 donations.
When it comes to living liver donors, each patient needs to launch their own campaign to find a matching donor.
About Living Donation
There is a belief that a donor must be deceased but in reality, the option of a living donation is one we are creating awareness of here.There are thousands of people on the waiting list for a liver transplant. Unfortunately, many waiting on the list won’t receive a transplant in time because there are not enough deceased-donor livers available. Because the liver can regenerate, or regrow, living-liver donation is possible—and a lifesaving option.
Benefits of Liver Donation
Since only about one in four people evaluated for living donation are eligible candidates, it’s important to talk with as many friends, co-workers and family members as possible. And spread the word in communities as we never know who will step up as a living donor. Anything is possible.
Here are some benefits for both the donor and the recipient.
Important note: The main reason for donating must be an unselfish desire to help the person in need. There is absolutely no financial compensation that can come as a result of it.
Here are some of the benefits for both the donor and the recipient.
For the Donor
Provides the opportunity to save a life.
Because the liver can regenerate, or regrow, living-liver donation is possible—and a lifesaving alternative.
Gives the opportunity to contribute to the recipient’s life — and the lives of the recipient’s loved ones — in a very meaningful and lifelong way
For the Recipient
Increases the existing overall organ supply, helping to save more who are currently waiting for life saving transplants.
Shortens the time on the waiting list for other people in need.
Improves odds of long-term recovery by allowing the surgery to be performed before the condition worsens, when the recipient is healthier.
Allows for the surgery to be scheduled at a time that is convenient for both the donor and the recipient.
Donor Requirements
To be an ideal living donor, you must meet the following criteria:
Be between 18 and 60 years old
Must be in good general health and have no history of: cancer or other diseases that could complicate the surgery, liver disease, kidney disease, diabetes, or heart disease.
The donor must have a compatible or identical blood type.
Donate voluntarily, free of coercion.
If you’re unsure if you qualify as a living donor, the transplant team can help determine if you would be a good match.
Image Source: UPMC Living Donor Champion Program
Recovery for Living-Donor Liver Transplant
The liver is one of the few organs that can regenerate. It usually takes about eight to ten weeks for it to grow back to full size.
The full recovery of the donor generally takes a few months before being back to previous level of health. However, it’s important to note that recovery times after living-donor liver transplants may vary.
What Happens During a Living-Donor Liver Transplant?
During a living-donor liver transplant, a portion of the liver from a healthy donor is removed and transplanted into the recipient.The potential donor is carefully evaluated before the surgery to determine if he or she can tolerate the operation, and if the one in need will benefit from the donor liver.The evaluation includes:
A screening phone call with a living donor coordinator
Diagnostic tests like chest X-rays and blood work
Physical and psychological exams
Consults with an anesthesiologist, a liver specialist, and a transplant surgeon
A meeting with an independent living donor advocate
Stories of the "Liver"
Successful Living-Donor Transplants
Nothing motivates like a success story. Here is some inspiration for you.
FAQs
What is living organ donation?
Living organ donation is an opportunity to save a life by giving part of your liver to someone who needs it. While many donors and recipients know each other, either as family, friends, or co-workers, there are donors who donate an organ to a stranger in need.
Why are you focused on colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients?
Almost every mCRC patient has to find their own living donor as they don't qualify to be on the donor list. We want to help support as many patients as it’s challenging enough to deal with the illness and by having community support, we hope to save more lives.
How do I qualify to be a living donor?
The potential donor is carefully evaluated before the surgery to determine if he or she can tolerate the operation, and if the one in need will benefit from the donor liver. The evaluation includes:
A screening phone call with a living donor coordinator
Diagnostic tests like chest X-rays and blood work
Physical and psychological exams
Consults with an anesthesiologist, a liver specialist, and a transplant surgeon
A meeting with an independent living donor advocate
Can I donate a liver while alive?
In liver transplants, a portion of the donor's liver is removed and transplanted to the recipient. Because of the liver’s unique ability to regenerate, both the donor and recipient's liver grows back to almost normal size several weeks after transplant.
Why is a living donation necessary?
Unfortunately, the wait for a deceased donor organ can be six months or longer for a liver.During this time, many potential recipients get sicker and no longer be candidates, or even die while waiting. A living donor organ can be scheduled in a very short amount of time. Living donation gets recipients transplanted quicker with outstanding results.
Do I have to be related to the recipient to qualify as a donor?
No, blood relation isn't necessary between the donor and recipient.
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Ready to save a life?
Become a Living Donor
💙 FYI: The liver regenerates!
Most colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients do not qualify to be on the donor list.
They need to find their own donor ANGEL.
We help.