How to Ask for a Living Kidney Donation

Dear (personalize letter),

I am writing to you about my (e.g., friend, sibling, spouse, partner), (Recipient), to let you know about (his/her/their) current health challenge and how you can help. This is not an easy letter for me to write, but I know that without sending this, someone who might be interested in helping won’t have that opportunity.

(Recipient) is a wonderful person. (Talk about the recipient’s work, family, volunteer work, involvement with the community and anything that could connect with other people.) (Recipient) has end-stage kidney disease or kidney failure and has three options for treatment: dialysis, a kidney transplant from a deceased donor or a kidney transplant from a living donor. Dialysis is only a temporary solution. While (Recipient) can remain on dialysis for many years, it's not a cure for kidney disease. It's also physically exhausting and time-consuming, with treatment schedules as frequent as three times each week for four hours each session.

Since I care so much for (Recipient), I’m doing everything I can to help find (him/her/them) a living kidney donor. (Give a brief history of Recipient’s health challenges, whether on dialysis, had a previous transplant, how long waiting, how many other people have tried to help, etc. Potentially include a photo. If the Recipient has made many positive lifestyle changes, mention them. If you are unable to donate, explain why. If the Recipient is on dialysis, talk about how difficult it is to have a normal life while being on kidney dialysis. If not on dialysis, describe the routine.)

(Recipient) needs a new kidney, and we hope you will consider being tested to be a donor. (Be as straightforward as possible.) I know this is a big request. But I make it on behalf of someone who devotes every day of (his/her/their) life to making a difference to (his/her/their) family and friends. If you can help, please take the online health history questionnaire at osuwexmedlivingdonor.org to see if you might qualify. If you know anyone who might, please forward this on. Forwarding this to your family, friends, work, school, congregation or any other communities you belong to would be most gratefully appreciated.

If you would like to learn more about living kidney donation, please feel free to call me at (insert phone number). I want to be as helpful as possible. You can also visit wexnermedical.osu.edu/kidneydonor or contact the Ohio State Comprehensive Transplant Center at 614-293-6724, option 3 and have a confidential conversation and get answers to any questions.

Thank you so much!

Create a flier to hang in local shops and around town. Include your name and a brief summary of your story. Also include Ohio State’s Living Donor webpage and link to the online health history questionnaire.

Have your Living Donor Champion create a Facebook page on your behalf that people can “like” to follow your journey.

• Share your personal journey
• Post news stories about successful donations
• Ask for a living donor
• Share the web link to the donor health history questionnaire: osuwexmedlivingdonor.org
• Post often and encourage people to share the post

Search "kidney donor champion pages" on Facebook for a listing of example pages.

Make a video telling your story and your need for a living kidney donation, post it to YouTube and then share on your Facebook page.

You can save a life…living kidney donor needed. Just a few weeks ago, (insert Recipient’s name and community) was diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease, and (his/her/their) best chance of survival lies in the hands of someone willing to be a living kidney donor. What can you do? If you're healthy, age 18-70 and willing to donate at kidney, (Recipient) may be able to accept the transplant. If after prayerful consideration you might be moved to undergo surgery and be a living donor for (Recipient), information on the process can be found at wexnermedical.osu.edu/kidneydonor or contact (Recipient’s) Living Donor Champion at (insert phone and/or email address).

Prayers for (Recipient), who is in need of a kidney transplant. If you're willing to give the gift of life, please take the online health history questionnaire at osuwexmedlivingdonor.org or contact (his/her/their) Living Donor Champion at (insert phone and/or email address).

Consider having your Living Donor Champion place a simple donor request on their back windshield including their contact information. Watch this video for other unique messaging ideas.

Reach out to your local radio station to ask them if they can share your story. View example