Page 25 - More than a match
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Next Stages of the Evaluation Process
further blood test to check for sickle cell disease (I am a carrier)
2: Medical Tests
These are the major tests to determine if one is medically suitable to
donate a kidney. Just having a compatible blood group and tissue
match are not enough. These medical tests were what I called the
make or break it tests. The four tests are: Glomerular Filtration Rate
(GFR), Electrocardiogram (ECG), CT Angiogram, and x-rays of the
chest and abdomen.
3: Consultant Kidney Specialist Review
A doctor who specializes in kidney disease is called a nephrologist.
During this appointment, the consultant will review the results of your
Stage 2 medical tests. It is at this stage you will find out if you are able
to donate, need to go for further tests, or are not a suitable donor.
4: Consultant Surgeon Meeting
At this stage, you will meet the consultant who will perform your
operation. It is the final stage where your suitability to donate would
be confirmed. The consultant specialist provides you information
about the operation, the transplant, recovery and the treatment
you would receive until you are discharged from the hospital.
5: Independant Assessment
The blood tests carried out at the hospital already showed that Tayo and
I are related. However, it is a legal requirement that we can also prove that
we are. We would need to provide documents such as birth certificates,
passports and photographs of us together.
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