Donating a Kidney or Part of a Liver

Live donors are willing to donate part of their liver or one of their kidneys to a recipient on the waiting list for an organ transplant. Your organ donation can save a life, and we are here to support you every step of the way. At Lahey Hospital & Medical Center (LHMC), we can help you understand what to expect from live kidney donation or live liver donation.

Our potential live donors will undergo an extensive evaluation process. We educate you about the donation and transplantation procedure, inform you about the risks and benefits of surgery, and guide you as you make decisions about organ donation and care. We pledge to protect your privacy and rights.

Live Liver Donation

Live donor liver transplantation is possible because the liver can regenerate, which is unique among solid organs in humans. This means that when part of a liver is removed from you, as a live donor, the portion that remains in your body will regenerate to its original volume, and the portion transplanted to the recipient will regenerate as well.

Live Kidney Donation

Live kidney donation is possible because while we have two kidneys, we only need one to lead a perfectly healthy life. In many cases, receiving a kidney from a living donor gives people with kidney failure the ability to get a new kidney before they need dialysis. Studies show that this leads to long-lasting transplants, so your gift can truly benefit the recipient for many years.

Our BREEZE TRANSPLANT Program

BREEZE TRANSPLANT is an online questionnaire program that helps facilitate organ donations from living donors. This program allows anyone interested in a live donation to submit basic information to our program to help determine if you are a potential candidate for donation. The goal of the program is to make it easier for patients to ask a loved one or friend for an organ donation, and to help eliminate any pressure on you as a potential donor.

Our live donor coordinator will contact you after we have reviewed your information to clarify data and provide the initial education regarding the donation process.

LHMC’s Live Donor Transplant Programs Overview

Learn about the history of the program, the team, a review of the criteria and evaluation process, and a discussion of the numerous benefits of becoming a living donor.