The doctor just told your loved one, "You need an organ transplant, or else you will die." It's one of the most frightening things you can be told, and it turns your life upside down in an instant.
There are so many questions running through your mind. What does it take to get on a transplant list? Can they get a living donor? If you and the patient have children and the disease is genetic, will your children get it too? Can we even have children? What are the financial implications of organ transplants, both pre- and post-treatment, especially if the patient is the main or only wage-earner? What if the patient decides 'enough is enough' and decides to end treatment?
All these questions, and many others, are sure to come up as the diagnosis sinks in and you have to face the reality of the situation. It's not easy, especially when you realize that while there's plenty of support for patients and donors (for which we are eternally grateful), there's little to none available for spouses, parents, children, friends, and other caregivers.
Transplant Families United was created to fill a void in the support structure for those who love and care for organ transplant patients. No matter the organ(s) needed, no matter the transplant status of the patient, the friends and families of those patients are just as entitled to a helping hand and a shoulder to cry on, if not moreso. They often have to assume the roles of breadwinner, nurse, and counselor to their loved ones, yet often have no one to rely on to meet those same needs for themselves. We aim to change that.
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Disclaimer
First, we are not doctors, nor do we claim any special medical expertise or knowledge besides that which we have gained through personal experience. So please do not take anything we say or do on this site as medical advice, or use it to diagnose any health condition you or a loved one may have. If you have a specific medical concern, please contact your health care provider of choice. Neither Transplant Families United nor its founder take any responsibility for the outcomes of your use of any medical information contained herein.
Second, this site may at times seem to have a kidney-centric bent. That is because kidney disease is what led the founder of Transplant Families United to set up the organization and this site. However, for the most part, you can replace the word 'kidney' with whatever organ your loved one is waiting for or has already received. We will do our best to provide information that is both informative in general and with regards to organ-specific items of interest.
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