Organ donation begins with a person who recognizes an opportunity to help others, enrolls in a state donor registry, and shares the decision to be a donor with family members and friends. The culmination of the process occurs when the person donates—and saves or enhances the lives of as many as eight people who need an organ transplant

The most important thing to do is to sign up as an organ and tissue donor in your state's donor registry.

To cover all bases, it's also helpful to:

• Designate your decision on your driver's license
• Tell your family about your donation decision
• Include donation in your advance directives, will, and living will.

Living Donation

Organ and tissue donation and transplantation provide a second chance at life for thousands of people each year. You have the opportunity to be one of the individuals who make these miracles happen. By offering a kidney donors give their loved one or friend an alternative to waiting on the national transplant waiting list for an organ from a deceased donor.

Sharing Your Spare

Living Kidney Donor Information

“A living donor can save and/or greatly improve the quality of life of a transplant candidate. However, you should only make a decision about donating an organ after you are fully informed of the possible risks and benefits.”

If you are considering the possibility of donating a kidney, please take the time to learn about the donation process—because everyone’s experience is different. The AKPA recommends you check out the information found at:

Transplant Living (a service of UNOS)

A comprehensive transplant site covering before the transplant, living donation, after transplant, community, resources, and pediatrics information.

Transplant Centers

85% of Alaskan kidney transplants are performed at one of the three transplant centers in Seattle. (Listed in Alpha order)

Swedish Transplant

Kidney Donor Information Line at 1-800-99ORGAN (1-800-996-7426).

University of Washington: Kidney Care & Transplant Program

Virginia Mason

Kidney Donor Information Line at (206) 341-1201 or KidneyDonorInfo@vmmc.org.

Why be a Donor?

Unfortunately, thousands die every year waiting for a donor organ that never comes. You have the power to change that—by making your intention to donate known.

Organ donation begins with a person who recognizes an opportunity to help others, enrolls in a state donor registry, and shares the decision to be a donor with family members and friends. The culmination of the process occurs when the person donates—and saves or enhances the lives of as many as eight people who need an organ transplant

The most important thing to do is to sign up as an organ and tissue donor in your state's donor registry.

To cover all bases, it's also helpful to:

• Designate your decision on your driver's license
• Tell your family about your donation decision
• Include donation in your advance directives, will, and living will.