10/09/2026
💚 IF YOU HAVE EVER WONDERED IF YOU QUALIFY TO DONATE A KIDNEY, HERE IS WHAT COULD DISQUALIFY YOU.
Some medical conditions can prevent someone from becoming a living kidney donor, while others require further evaluation.
🚫 Common reasons someone may be disqualified:
❌ Diabetes (Type 1 or Type 2, depending on individual circumstances and transplant center policies)
❌ Kidney disease or poor kidney function
❌ Uncontrolled high blood pressure
❌ Active cancer or certain cancer histories
❌ Serious heart or lung disease
❌ Active or untreated serious infections
❌ Certain uncontrolled mental health conditions
❌ Pregnancy (donation must wait until afterward)
⚠️ Things that do NOT always disqualify you:
✅ Being 30–40 pounds overweight — BMI and overall health matter more than the number of pounds.
✅ Having controlled high blood pressure — some donors may qualify.
✅ Being over 50 or 60 — age alone doesn't necessarily disqualify you.
✅ Living in another state — you don't have to live in Arkansas to help.
✅ Having a different blood type — paired kidney donation may be an option!
💚 PLEASE REMEMBER:
Don't disqualify yourself before talking to a transplant team! Every potential donor is evaluated individually, and protecting the donor's health always comes first.
Now that I'm back home in Arkansas, I'm waiting for my referral to UAMS in Little Rock so I can begin the transplant evaluation process.
In the meantime, I'm continuing my search for a living kidney donor.
One healthy kidney could give me more tomorrows.
Please SHARE this information. You never know who might discover they're eligible to save a life.
💚 Jenni Lou
Jenni Lou's Kidney-Raiser
