Living Donor Kidney Program | Living Donor Liver Program | Living Donor Lung Program

Dr. Ed Cole Director Kidney Transplant

The Multi Organ Transplant Program performs over 50 living donor kidney transplants per year. Each patient referred to the kidney transplant program is presented with the option of living donor transplant. Living donation reduces the waiting time significantly for kidney transplant candidates and has the advantage of ensuring that the surgery is thoroughly planned and prepared for by recipient, donor, and transplant team. Patient outcomes following living donor kidney transplant are excellent.

Significant assessment, preparation, and planning is required to successfully coordinate living donor kidney transplantation. Living donors must be: a blood relative, spouse or friend who shares a compatible blood group with the patient; between the ages of 18 and 60 years; in good health and a suitable match; freely willing to donate.

One kidney is more than able to regulate, remove waste, and to produce hormones therefore only one kidney is needed for the recipient in kidney transplant surgery. This is why, in the case of living donor transplants, the donor is able to live a normal life with only one kidney.

The living donor kidney transplant program is directed by Dr. Ed Cole, with support from Assessment Coordinators, Transplant Coordinators and various members of the multidisciplinary team throughout the transplant process.