I just heard from my second donor. UCLA rejected her for being "too young" and her family history not being optimal. They told her to apply again in five years. Since I refuse to wait 10+ years for a deceased donor kidney in this area, I think it's time to look into listing at other centers. I have some material to read about that, but right now I'm wondering about Cedars. What's different about getting evaluated at another center in the same region, for the purpose of getting living donors approved?Is this "too young" thing common? I know 18 is the standard minimum, but it seems UCLA has a soft limit of 25.
Do they expect her family history to change in five years? This story is only serving to reinforce my unflattering view of UCLA. How keen is your potential donor? If she has the attitude of "I am going to find a centre willing to do this, like it or not" then they may just see that she has the maturity and determination to see it through.
I cannot say enough good things about Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla. Amy Knight is the BEST transplant coordinator ever! Dr.'s Marsh and Schaeffer are wonderful too. After being at UCLA and USC, Jenna multi-listed at Scripps Green (you can do the application online go here and scroll to the bottom http://www.scripps.org/services/organ-and-cell-transplantation/medical-services__kidney-transplant-program ) and she liked them so much she had them do her living donor work-ups. They were great to her donors too (one was found to have her own kidney disease, and the other gave a kidney to Jenna.)
The social worker was a serious fellow, he runs their on-line support group. My donor does not even remember seeing a social worker. The wait will be the same as UCLA for cadaver organs. I think going out of state or to the San Diego/Sacramento area are good ideas if you want to reduce your cadaver wait, if it comes to that. Not sure this actually answered your question, but if you want more specific info, I will try to remember. Good luck!
I don't know my PRA, but I've only ever had two transfusions of supposedly "clean" blood. Can PRA be naturally high, or do the the antibodies only develop with exposure to transplants and transfusions?Forgot to add:I assume a donor exchange/chain (UCLA) would have a lower chance of rejection and a better long-term graft survival rate than an ABO incompatible or crossmatch positive transplant (Cedars), but it appears I would have options at either center. It's all about not having a donor summarily rejected before match testing is even done.