Living Donor Champions: A Journey You Don't Make Alone

For someone in need of a liver or kidney transplant, every moment spent on the waiting list is critical. A living-donor transplant may be the life-saving solution to getting him or her off of the waiting list and back to being healthy.

However, asking someone to become a living donor is a challenge and can be an overwhelming task. With the help of a living donor Champion, finding a donor becomes more manageable.

The Role of a Living Donor Champion

A Champion may be a friend, family member, co-worker, or anyone else who is willing to provide emotional support for someone on the transplant waiting list. They can help by taking the lead in finding and securing a suitable living donor.

A Champion's role includes:

• Finding a live donor in a timely fashion
• Taking the responsibility of identifying a donor away from the person, allowing him or her to focus on their health
• Connecting and talking with as many people as possible so that an appropriate match can be found
• Offering support and inspiration through this difficult journey

UPMC Living Donor Champion Program Events

You and a family member or friend are invited to attend a free educational workshop to learn about the living donor transplant process, the benefits, and how to identify a potential donor.

If you have already attended a UPMC Living Donor Champion Workshop, please join our Champion Support Group on Facebook. To learn more about living donor transplant, follow us on Facebook today.

Living Donor Champion Resources

Get to know more about our program by downloading the Living Donor Champion Toolkit (PDF).

• UPMC Hamot Kidney Transplant Services toolkit
• UPMC Harrisburg Kidney Transplant Services tookit
• UPMC Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute toolkit

The first step to finding a living donor is sharing your story. Get started with our Sharing Your Story Worksheet (PDF).

Champion Program on Access Health

Watch Access Health's feature on UPMC's Living Donor Champion Program.

Our Locations

The UPMC Living Donor Champion Program is offered at UPMC locations in Erie, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh.

Meet Living Donor Champions

Read about Living Donor Champions who have used social media to find living donors for their loved ones.