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UW Health recently identified and investigated a security incident regarding select patients’ information.Learn more
Living liver donation
A living liver donation champion is a person who shares the message that a living liver donor is needed for someone they know. Their efforts increase the number of people who may consider living donation.
A living donation champion can be the spouse, partner, family member or close friend of the person who needs a liver transplant. Some patients may have more than one champion. For example, one can be a social media champion and one could focus on other ways to spread the news that a living donor is needed. Sometimes a donor champion is a person who wanted to be a living donor, but could not due to medical or other reasons. Some donation champions end up deciding that they want to be a living donor. Anyone can be a living donation champion!
Living with liver disease is very difficult. People who have liver disease often do not like to talk about it or the fact that they need a transplant. Living donation champions offer hope and help. People who have a living donation champion have a better chance of receiving a living donor transplant.
There are many ways a living donation champion can spread the message that a living donor is needed. There is no financial cost for being someone's living donor champion. Your time and effort are all that is needed. Ideas for champions include:
Speaking to people to tell them that you know someone who needs a living liver donor
Sending emails
Writing letters
Placing a radio ad
Posting on social media
Asking local businesses to post fliers
Placing an ad or article in the newspaper or social/faith-based newsletters
Making a video
Placing a radio ad
Writing a message on a car window or t -shirt or other creative ideas
Request a supply of our living donation promotion cards and materials. The cards list the contact information people will need if they want to learn more about living donation and/or want to start the screening process.
Our living liver donation communication specialists are ready to help you become a living liver donor champion. Contact them by calling (608) 265-0959 or email donorchampions@uwhealth.org.