That's when a patient receives an organ from a living donor. Living donations offer an alternative for patients waiting for a transplant and help increase the existing organ supply. Depending on what organ is needed, living donations may consist of the entire organ, such as a kidney, or a segment of an organ, such as a lobe of the liver or lung. Organs suitable for a living donation are the kidney, liver, lung, pancreas, intestine, and in rare cases, the heart. Living heart transplants are conducted when a patient receives a "heart-lung bloc" because it is determined that the donor lungs will function best if they are not separated from the donor heart. The patient's own heart may then be given to someone waiting for a heart transplant.

If you know someone who needs a transplant and are considering making a living donation, please contact that person's transplant center. If you do not have a specific patient in mind, you can contact Transplant Living for additional information about anonymous living donations.