30 Years After Donating a Kidney One Man Receives His Own Kidney Transplant

30 Years After Donating a Kidney One Man Receives His Own Kidney Transplant
Friday June 18, 2010

Dave Hanlon did an amazing thing 30 years ago. He donated a kidney to his brother, who was in renal failure caused by a genetic problem. His story, and that of his brother, was reported by the Newbury Port News. This type of donation is referred to as "living related donation."

Flash forward three years and Dave is diagnosed with the same problem, but now he only has one kidney and a bleak diagnosis of future kidney failure.

Dave was able to take great care of himself and by following doctor's instructions, delay the inevitable kidney failure for 27 more years. When it was time to start dialysis, he was placed on the waiting list for an organ transplant.

Dave was fortunate enough to have a friend volunteer to donate a kidney, but Dave soon learned that he was in a great position to receive a kidney from an anonymous donor. As a prior donor, Dave was placed near the top of the kidney waiting list. While it is a rare occurrence, when a living organ donor needs an organ and is placed on the waiting list, they receive extra points that help them rise to the top of the list immediately.

Dave now has his kidney, is feeling much better, and plans to return to work full time in the next few months.

Congrats to Dave on his new lease on life, and thank you for doing the right thing so many years ago.

http://surgery.about.com/b/2010/06/18/30-years-after-donating-a-kidney-one-man-receives-his-own-kidney-transplant-dave-hanlon.htm