Post-Op · Stage A · Welcome back
You're home. Here's what you need.
The first weeks home are the most important. This page leads with the things you might need right now — resources, support, and your team. The emotional payoff is here too, when you're ready for it.
Open Stage B · Your week-by-week recovery
Day-to-day checklists from Week 1 through Year 1+. What to do, what to avoid, what to call the team about, and milestones to celebrate. Saves your progress.
What you might need right now
When to call your team — now
Fever >101°F · incision redness/drainage · sudden pain · trouble breathing · blood in urine · severe nausea lasting >24h.
+1 (619) 555-0123Pain — what's safe
Tylenol (acetaminophen) up to 3g/day. NEVER Advil, Motrin, Aleve, or any NSAID — for life. Your prescribed opioids are short-term only.
Mental health support
Post-donation depression is real and often shows up between weeks 3–8. Free transplant-specific therapy within 48h.
Crisis: text HOME to 741741 · call 988
Message your coordinator
Olivia Stoddart, RN — Living Donor Coordinator. Usually responds within a few hours during the day.
Open thread
Lab schedule
6-month follow-up labs due Jul 3, 2026. Creatinine, eGFR, blood pressure.
Add to calendar
Long-term care team
Your nephrologist, surgeon, dietician, PT, and coordinator — message any of them directly.
Open Stage C →
The longer view
Your kidney's story
What's happening on the other side. Updates are anonymous unless you and your recipient both opt in.
Days since your donation
142
Days you've given back
5,475
(~15 years × 365 — estimated added life)
Day 0 · Surgery complete
✓ CompleteYou did it. Your kidney is in your recipient's body.
Day 7 · Recipient off dialysis
✓ CompleteFor the first time in years, they're not tethered to a machine.
Day 30 · Recipient back at work
✓ CompleteTheir normal life is starting to look normal again.
Day 90 · Connection window opens
📩 Open nowIf your recipient opts in, you can now request to connect. ~75% of paired-exchange pairs do.
Day 365 · 1-year anniversary
You've given your recipient an estimated 15 more years of life.
Day 90 is here
Ready to meet the person you helped?
On day 90, the anonymity window opens. You can send a connection request — your transplant team and your recipient both review and approve before any info is shared.