Q: Is life after kidney transplantation completely normal?
A: After kidney transplantation, a continuous drug treatment (immunosuppression) is necessary to keep the body from rejecting the kidney. Unfortunately, these drugs do produce an increased risk for infectious diseases and, to a small extent, for tumors. Additionally these drugs can produce side effects. Therefore, a patient has to see his or her transplant specialist regularly. 

Q: Why is there a waiting list for kidney transplantation?
A: There are too few organs available for transplantation. In addition, patients have to wait until a kidney with a good matched tissue type has been found. 

Q: Why must I take medication for the rest of my life? 
A: You must take medicine every day to prevent your body from rejecting your new organ. 

Q: What happens if I forget to take a dose? 
A: If you miss a dose, contact your transplant team immediately. 

Q: What should I do if the medicines cause side effects?
A: Notify your transplant coordinator or physician. They will suggest ways for managing your side effects. 

Q: Can I get in touch with the family of the organ donor? 
A: After a transplant it is not uncommon for a recipient to want to write to the family of the donor to express his/her gratitude. This may take the form of a letter or a card. If you feel as though this is something that you would like to do, the following guidelines might be of assistance to you when writing. The card may be as brief as "thank you" or you may want to: 

• Discuss your job or occupation, your hobbies or interests 
• Write about your family situation, such as marital status, children or grandchildren 
• Since the religion of the donor's family is unknown, please consider this if you are including religious comments 
• It is important to remember that while you are, in a sense, celebrating, the family may still be coping with the loss of their loved one. Therefore, it is important to communicate in a sensitive manner 
• Finally, include first names only