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Living-Donor Liver Transplant: A Life-Saving Option

If your child has been diagnosed with liver disease and is waiting for a life-saving transplant, a living donor transplant could save his or her life. Living donation offers hope to children in need by reducing time spent on the transplant waiting list and offering a second chance at life.

During a living-donor liver transplant, a healthy adult can donate a portion of their liver to a child with end-stage liver disease. Following the transplant, the donor's liver will regenerate, or grow back, in a few months.

WHERE DO I START?

Please fill out the form below to learn more about living-donor liver transplant at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Frequently Asked Questions About Living Donation

What are the benefits of living donation?

By identifying a living donor, your child can receive a transplant sooner and before their disease progresses to a more severe stage. Additional benefits of a living donor transplant include: 

  • Reduced wait time on the transplant waiting list
  • Improved long-term outcomes
  • As a donor, you have the benefit of knowing that you have contributed to a young child’s life in a very meaningful way

Who can be a living donor for my child?

It’s important to remember that living donors do not have to be related to the child receiving the transplant. Living donors can be family members but they can also be friends, members of your local community, or strangers who simply want to help a child in need. A potential living donor must:

  • Be between the ages of 18-55
  • Be in good mental and physical health
  • Have an unselfish desire to help someone in need

How do I find a living donor for my child?

The first step to finding a living donor for your child is to share their story. At UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, we understand that this can be a difficult task, so we have resources in place to support you along this journey. Through the UPMC Living Donor Champion Program, we provide: 

  • Talking points for speaking about living donation in your community 
  • Tips for using social media to share your child’s story 
  • Guidelines for speaking to your local media about your need for a living donor 

UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Pediatric Liver Clinic at UPMC Harrisburg

The Pediatric Liver Transplant Program at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh has expanded its expertise and comprehensive team approach to patients at UPMC Harrisburg. Experts from UPMC Children’s Hospital are available to meet with and provide hepatology and liver transplant services to patients in central Pennsylvania. To learn more, call 412-692-6428.

About UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh

  • At the Pediatric Liver Transplant Program at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh we provide hope to all children with liver disease. 
  • Our team has performed more pediatric liver transplants than any other center in the United States, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) and we are a leading center for pediatric living-donor liver transplantation, performing more than any other pediatric transplant center in the US.
  • Our expertise in liver transplant and living donation allows us to accept patients who have been deemed high-risk and have been turned down for a transplant at another center.

Join the Conversation about Living-Donor Transplants

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