If you want to become my living donor confidential health screening for liver donations to begin the process.

Who can be a donor?

To qualify as my living liver donor, you must:

• Have a blood type O+ or O-, A+, or A-
  (A types will require additional screening to determine subtype of A2) 
• Be physically fit and have no significant medical problems such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease
• Have a body mass index (BMI) <= 32 by the time of surgery (there is some flexibility on the BMI)
• Be between 18 and 60 years of age; however, slightly younger or slightly older candidates may be considered on a case-by-case basis

Is it safe to be a donor?

Protecting the donor’s safety, health and well-being are the primary goals of the evaluation process. As with any major surgery, there are some risks associated with living liver donation. While serious complications are rare, as with any surgery, they are possible.

You can expect to donate a portion of the liver (not the entire organ) and your liver will grow back to full volume within 3-4 months. 

What to expect in this process

• The evaluation period takes about 2-3 months (as long as no additional testing is needed), and includes education about the evaluation process, the surgery and recovery, and the risks involved with donation; extensive lab work, a CT and MRI of the liver, chest x-ray, ECHO and EKG, and consultations with the social worker, hepatologist, surgeon and anesthesiologist.
• Donation surgery will be in NYC (or possibly DC).
• Out of state donors are welcome. 1 trip to nyc is required (1-2 days) to finish evaluation.
  
• All pre and post transplant costs are covered; 
a gofundme exists to cover anything not covered by my insurance. This includes costs of evaluation, sugery, travel, accomodations.  
• Recovery time is 5-7 days in the hospital, 4-6 weeks at home. Expect to take 3-4 weeks off of work. Lost wages are covered through FMLA or GoFundMe.
  
• The liver will grow back to 90% within 8 weeks and fully within a year. 

How can I be a donor?

All prospective donors complete a series of medical examinations and interviews with our staff to determine whether they are appropriate candidates for living donation. 

Get started with the process by signing up with the health screening for liver donations

Additional resources 

For more information about becoming a living donor, visit NYU Langone Transplant Institute.

Informational video about the transplant process 

Additional detailed information about living donor liver transplant