Lessons Learned

This chapter talks about the key lessons following the author's story. It argues that kidney donors are not patients in the traditional sense of that word, and should perhaps think of them as philanthropists who donate a body part instead of donating money. The chapter investigates the attitudes, procedures and practices, and ethos of transplant centers with regard to living donors. It examines the sorts of barriers that the author described, and studies how the process or the cost may put off good candidates to donate. The chapter then turns to discuss the significance of increasing the number of kidney transplants in society. It illustrates how research into the motivations of donors led to the development and widespread adoption of a set of guidelines for evaluating stranger donors. Ultimately, the chapter discusses transplant centers and advocacy organizations' use of conventional and social media, and personal networks to encourage, train, and help patients to “recruit” unrelated donors.