 The path to finding a living kidney donor can have its ups and downs. University of Maryland Medical Center's experience team recommends these top 10 strategies when looking for a living donor. Number 1. Acknowledge that this is a difficult ask. Your health is a top priority, and that means you must make this huge ask for a kidney. Number 2. My doctor told me, stress that this is what your team says is best for you. Tell everyone that your doctor told you that a living donor kidney means you will get transplanted faster and with a better quality organ. Number 3. Know the facts and share them. Key facts include, healthy people need only one kidney to stay healthy, even though we are typically born with two. A kidney donor does not need to be a family member. A kidney donor does have to be at least 18 years old. A kidney donor can be any blood type, especially since there are paired exchange programs. The donor operation is minimally invasive and donors recover quickly after surgery. Most donors go home one to two days after the operation. Donors do not need any lifelong medications. The cost of donating a kidney is covered by the recipient's insurance. The donor has a medical team that is separate from the recipient's team. The donor's health is a top priority. When someone decides to take that next step to see if they could be a donor, all of that information is confidential. Number 4. Share information. Since now you know the facts, it's time to share this information and your experience. Talk to people, email and text them, use social media, write letters, don't be shy or quiet about what you need. Repeating yourself is necessary since it may take multiple volunteers before finding a donor. Perseverance is key. Number 5. Engage champions. Get family and friends to be your champions so they share your story too. They can help amplify your efforts by telling neighbors, friends and even perfect strangers in the checkout line at the grocery store. Number 6. Talk about your dreams. Talk about the future and what you'll do when you get a new organ. Like going on a vacation without worrying about dialysis or walking a daughter down the aisle. Talk about those dreams because a donor can help you achieve them. Number 7. Don't ask at all. Remember those champions? Let them be the ones who set up social media accounts and ask others to consider donating an organ. This means you don't have to ask at all. Others are asking on your behalf. They are called champions for a reason. Number 8. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Find different ways to say the same thing. Use words, photos or even videos. Many people need to hear something 7 or more times before making a decision. Number 9. Stay upbeat. This path to transplantation can be challenging, but a living donor transplant is life changing and makes all this effort worth it in the end. Number 10. Visit the website so you can keep learning and get others to learn with you. Interested donors can visit our website for valuable information, including next steps for being considered as a donor. University of Maryland Medical Center, a better state of care.