How does the 'angel advocate' program work for kidney donors?

Angel advocates use their social media to share patient stories and find potential living kidney donors for those in need.

What are the benefits of living kidney donation via the pilot program?

Living donor kidneys often provide better matches, reduce rejection risks, and last longer than those from deceased donors.

Which Pennsylvania hospitals are part of the kidney donor pilot?

Temple University Hospital, UPMC-Harrisburg, and Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia are participating in the pilot program.

Home / Health / Strangers Unite: Angel Advocates Seek Kidney Donors

Strangers Unite: Angel Advocates Seek Kidney Donors

17 Dec

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Summary

Volunteer strangers use social media to find kidney donors for patients.
A pilot program in Pennsylvania shows promising early signs of success.
Living kidney donations offer better matches and longer-lasting organs.

Strangers Unite: Angel Advocates Seek Kidney Donors

A new pilot program is harnessing the power of social media and volunteerism to address the critical shortage of kidney donors. "Angel advocates" are stepping forward to share the stories of patients awaiting transplants, aiming to find living donors through their networks.

This innovative approach, dubbed the "Great Social Experiment," is being tested in Pennsylvania with 15 patients across three hospitals. Early signs are encouraging, with some patients already finding matches, offering renewed optimism for those facing long waits for a life-saving organ.

The program's success could pave the way for a national blueprint, as living donor kidneys offer better matches and longevity compared to those from deceased donors. The initiative emphasizes the potential for ordinary individuals to make an extraordinary difference in saving lives.