During this time, you will receive close follow-up with your physicians and the transplant team. Various support groups are also available to assist you during this waiting time. Each transplant team has their own specific guidelines regarding waiting on the transplant list and being notified when a donor organ is available. In most instances, you will be notified by phone or pager that an organ is available. You will be told to come to the hospital immediately so that you can be prepared for the transplant.
Rejection is a normal reaction of the body to a foreign object.
When a new kidney is placed in a person's body, the body sees the transplanted organ as a threat and tries to attack it. The immune system makes antibodies to try to kill the new organ, not realizing that the transplanted kidney is beneficial. To allow the organ to successfully live in a new body, medications must be given to trick the immune system into accepting the transplant and not thinking it is a foreign object. Medications must be given for the rest of your life to fight rejection. Each person is individual, and each transplant team has preferences for different medications.