My mother donated a kidney, but it was rejected within a few days. One kidney had been removed months before the transplant attempt and the other was removed at the time of transplant. Although most patients are healthier with a transplant than they are on dialysis, patients, without kidneys, can potentially live with the support of dialysis for many years. Life expectancy will be different for different people, based upon their overall state of health and the presence or absence of other health problems which could complicate their care. There are two kinds of kidney donors.
Cadaveric donors are individuals who have chosen to donate their kidneys after their death.
Living donors, on the other hand, choose to donate one of their two kidneys while they are alive. There are also two kinds of living donors.