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If your child has kidney failure and needs a kidney transplant, he or she must get on the waiting list.
The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) handles all organ transplant waiting lists in the United States.
You may turn to living kidney donors or kidney exchange programs in hopes of finding a donor more quickly. We'll still place your child on the national waiting list in case a deceased donor's kidney becomes available first.
Our kidney transplant team must evaluate and approve your child for the transplant waiting list. We'll do some tests to learn if they're qualified for placement on the list.
These test results will also yield a “score” that decides their place in line on the waiting list.
Many factors affect your child's place on the waiting list, such as:
Once your child is on the waiting list, do the following to maintain your child's eligibility:
It may surprise you to learn that we must draw your child's blood once a month for typing. This is because children with kidney failure often receive blood products that can expose their immune systems to harmful foreign matter.
Some children may move to “inactive” status for various reasons such as:
It's vital to keep in close contact with your child's transplant coordinator.
If your child becomes inactive for any reason, he or she won't lose the time already spent on the active waiting list.
There's no way to predict how long your child will wait for a transplant, and waiting can be stressful. It's crucial for parents and other caregivers to look after their own health and well-being.
To make sure you and your child have the support you need during this time, our social workers can refer:
Our team is on call 24 hours a day, always ready for your child's transplant if we receive a matching kidney.
If your child receives a kidney transplant, they'll need follow-up care and routine testing.
If you live far from Pittsburgh, you may want to look into long-term local housing such as:
If you have questions, concerns, or unexpected needs about your child's kidney transplant, contact our team at 412-692-5182.
Children's Hospital's main campus is located in the Lawrenceville neighborhood. Our main hospital address is:
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh One Children’s Hospital Way 4401 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15224
In addition to the main hospital, Children's has many convenient locations in other neighborhoods throughout the greater Pittsburgh region.
With myCHP, you can request appointments, review test results, and more.
For questions about a hospital bill call:
To pay your bill online, please visit UPMC's online bill payment system.
Interested in giving to Children's Hospital? Support the hospital by making a donation online, joining our Heroes in Healing monthly donor program, or visiting our site to learn about the other ways you can give back.