83 year old man is an altruistic kidney donor

[mrs_overall]

This story gladdened my heart. 8% of the British population have said they would be willing to do the same. If they did, there would no longer be a kidney transplant waiting list. I am also a great believer that we should adopt an "opt out" system.

http://www.iol.co.za/...ates-kidney-1.1299122

[NOX]

I saw him on the news yesterday- wasn't he absolutely brilliant. I'm not personally for an opt out but I do recognise the need for more transplant donors, but this guy was really inspirational.

[jno]

I don't mean to sound rude, because this is a really nice story, but just how good is an 83-year-old kidney? Are they still fully functional and good for many years more?

[mrs_overall]

The tests for donors are rigorous and those selected as donors are amongst the healthiest in the population. His kidney was described as being similar to thof a 40 year old

[mrs_overall]

*that of*

[excelsior-1]

if you bothered to see the article .... the doctors said that his kidney was like that of a man half his age. he is exceptionally healthy

[excelsior-1]

sorry mrs o. my poast was for jno. it's just that as i was typing, your response appeared

[jno]

I did bother to read the link and it didn't say that, excelsisor.

That sounds okay then, mrs_o, I was just wondering.

[jno]

*excelsior*

[mrs_overall]

no problem

[jno]

they're obviously not going to be queueing for my body parts when I'm dead. In fact there's a widespread lack of interest in them even now while I'm alive.

[excelsior-1]

then i apologise jno. i was in fact referring to the article on tv yesterday which did report what i said in the above reply.

forgive me

[mrs_overall]

jno, I believe Ripleys Believe It or Believe it Not Museum pay good money for oddities and curiosities ;-)

[jno]

you are forgiven, go and sin no more.

[gness]

I wanted to donate to my OH but we weren`t a match. I tried to get the hospital to pair us up with another couple in the same situation but they wouldn`t. The difference a new kidney makes is unbelievable.

[jno]

I asked Gunther von Hagen if he'd like to slice me up but he said it wasn't worth buying an XXXL salami machine just for one person.

[mrs_overall]

gness, paired donation is incredibly difficult to arrange,as I am sure you know

[gness]

I know. Has to be done at same time to prevent change of mind by one couple but happening more now I think.

[Sqad]

I must say that i share the concern of jno in that if i needed a transplant, i am not sure that i would be reassured by receiving a kidney from a 83 year old.

Yes rigorous renal function tests are performed, but they would be whilst he was alive.One presumes that there would be a gap of time between his tests and his death and my concern would be had anything deteriorated in that time.

Just a thought.....you understand.

[mrs_overall]

Sqad, he is NOT dead...hence the heading of "altruistic donor"

[Sqad]

MrsO....I know he is not dead, but OK. then i suppose my comment falls flat ;-)