Be sure to answer your phone at all times of the day and night. ​ When a donor organ becomes available, a transplant coordinator will contact you, discuss the offer, and decide whether to accept or reject the organs. If you accept the organ(s), you most likely will have to go to your transplant center, which may be immediately, or your team may tell you a specific time to come in for surgery. Your team may ask you to stop eating and drinking and will instruct you on which medications to stop or continue.

Some of the success of your transplant depends on organ donor risk factors, which include: The age, medical, and social history of the donor. The condition of the organ/organs once physically looked at by the organ procurement member of your transplant team.

The organs you will receive will be deceased donor organs. Deceased donor organs are donated organs from a person who has suffered irreversible brain damage and has been declared dead by a doctor. There are two types of deceased donor organs: ​ 1. Standard Criteria Donor (SCD): Organs from deceased donors who were young and healthy and did not have significant health problems. The cause of death is usually an accident or sudden illness. The organs are expected to function well after they are transplanted. ​ 2. Expanded Criteria Donor (ECD): A deceased donor that is not considered “standard.” This type of donor may be considered for you based on your disease and how sick you are. At the time of the offer, the surgeon will review this with you and decide whether to accept or reject the offer.

Sometimes the transplanted organ is unable to be used, and you may be sent home. This is known as a dry run. This can be disappointing, but you should understand that this is very common before the transplant. The transplant surgeons are looking out for your best interest and will only give you the most suitable organs.