KIDNEY PAIRED EXCHANGE
Kidney Paired Exchange is a special program that helps people get a kidney transplant even when their friend or loved one wants to donate but isn’t a match.
Kidney Paired Exchange
Why Is This Helpful?
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For the recipient: It gives them a much better chance of getting a living donor kidney, which usually lasts longer and works better than a kidney from someone who has passed away.
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For the donor: Even though they can’t directly help their loved one, they still get to save a life—and their loved one still receives a kidney in return.
How It Works – Step by Step
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A willing donor is not a match for their loved one.
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They join the Kidney Paired Exchange program.
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The program finds another pair in the same situation.
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For example:
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Donor A can help Recipient B
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Donor B can help Recipient A
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They “swap” kidneys—each donor gives to someone else, and each recipient gets a kidney that matches.
Sometimes, this involves 3 or more pairs, or even a long chain of donors and recipients.
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Why It’s So Powerful
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It turns a “no” into a life-saving yes.
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It helps more people get transplants faster.
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Donors still get to help their loved one, just in a different way.
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Recipients get a healthy, working kidney that can last for many years.
In short: Kidney Paired Exchange gives people hope—and a second chance at life—even when a direct match isn’t possible.
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