Most kidney donations today use minimally invasive (laparoscopic) surgery. Donors typically stay in the hospital a couple of days and return to normal activity within a few weeks — the OHSU team will give you a timeline specific to your health and job.

OHSU's independent evaluation is designed to answer exactly that — for you, personally. Research on long-term donor health is broadly reassuring, and your transplant team will walk you through your individual risk profile based on your health history. One additional note for women: if you're considering having children in the future, most physicians advise waiting to donate until your family is complete.

The recipient's insurance typically covers the medical costs of donation itself. Travel, lodging, and lost wages can be reimbursed through NLDAC and other donor-assistance programs (see Section 5).

You can stop at any point, for any reason, with no explanation required — including after you've been approved. This is true throughout the process.

No. Even if you're not a match, paired kidney exchange (Section 4) means your donation can still help me, by helping someone else in exchange for a matching kidney for me.

Your initial inquiry and evaluation are handled confidentially by the OHSU transplant team, independently of me and my care team.

Yes. Donate Life Northwest can connect you directly with a past living donor who's willing to talk honestly about their own experience — no strings attached. Reach out to Marissa Markintire at livingdonation@donatelifenw.org and she'll make the introduction.