DENVER (KDVR) — March marks National Kidney Disease Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about kidney health, the challenges those with kidney disease face and the life-saving role of organ donation.
Across the country, thousands of people are waiting for a kidney transplant, and the need for living donors has never been greater. In the state of Colorado alone, nearly 2,000 people are waiting for a kidney transplant, with many facing three to five years on the waiting list.
However, living kidney donors are helping fill that gap.
At 73 years old, Barbee Lux, of Denver, said she always had a heart for giving.
“I feel like if you have an abundance of anything, be it time or resources, or in my case, a healthy kidney, that it’s an opportunity to share,” she said.
Though the idea of kidney donation had been in her heart for years, it wasn’t until a year and a half ago that Lux discovered it was possible to donate a kidney to a stranger.
“I didn’t know that that was possible. There started my exploration,” she said.
At first, Lux wasn’t sure if she’d be eligible, given her age. She began researching, and found donors over the age of 65 are not uncommon.
According to data from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, which tracks every organ donation and transplant event occurring in the U.S., 2.5% of all living kidney donors to date have been over 65.
Dr. Hunter Moore, surgical director of living donor transplant at AdventHealth Porter, said there are some benefits to being a living organ donor over the age of 65.
“The older you are, the less length of time you need for your kidneys. So, actually older donors can safely donate,” Moore said.
For many, the idea of undergoing a major surgery can be daunting. However, after Lux’s surgery at AdventHealth Porter, she said her recovery was smoother than she expected.
“I did really well. I did very well,” she recalled.
In fact, Lux said if she had the opportunity, she would do it all over again.
“I thought of that maybe as soon as the next day. That if I had another kidney, I would be so glad to donate it,” she said.
While there are certain medical conditions that may disqualify a person from being a kidney donor — such as uncontrolled hypertension, untreated diabetes or a history of cancer — most people can at least go through an initial screening to see if they are eligible.
There is no upper age limit to donate, but Moore said there are some considerations to keep in mind.
“With the older individuals that have less sort of kidney function, is that they can donate that kidney, but it’s not going to be as kind of long-lasting and as durable as someone, as a 30-year-old that’s donated a kidney,” he said.
However, Moore said health is the determining factor in whether or not someone is eligible, and the screening process will rule out any concerns.
As for Lux, she said she is thankful she went through the process and was able to help make an impact.
“It’s an incredible reward that I’ve yet to put words to,” she said. “I would encourage people to learn about it. And not be discouraged about their age. If they have good health and a desire in their heart, I think that learning more about it would be really the way to go.”
