Organ Transplants: Making the Most of Your Gift of Life

This book was the only one of its kind for a long time. In fact, I found it years after my father's liver transplant, and found it helpful even "after the fact." With new information coming out daily, and treatments progressing so rapidly, I continue to keep an eye out for more books on the subject of organ donation and transplantation. I'm interested in the most up-to-date information AND interviews with all types of recipients. I want to know how other people (besides the recipient) feel during and after the process. Mr. Finn's book is outstanding, and reports from a PATIENT'S point of view. An excellent accompaniment that I suggest for FAMILY members of a transplant recipient is "ORGAN TRANSPLANTS: A Suvival Guide for the Entire Family". -- Tina P. Schwartz, YA Author

There is such a scarce amount of information for families of transplant recipients. In fact, this is the only book on the subject at my local library. I found it extremely helpful and informative for many of the technical questions I had about what my father went through and would continue to endure. (He had a liver transplant 7 years ago.) I wish I had found it years ago! Thank you Robert Finn!

As a clinical social worker that works with patients facing the possibility of organ transplantation, I picked up this book with the hope that it would be something I could recommend to patients. It did not disappoint me! Very well written and comprehensive, it gives a huge amount of information in an easy to understand format. It is also a very interesting read - I had a hard time putting it down! It is a great starting point for people that are just beginning to learn about transplant. I will be strongly recommending it to all patients and families that I meet as part of the pre-transplant evaluation process.

My tissue matched up as a kidney donor for a friend who is on dialysis. I needed a reference that would answer my questions as I look down the road to my surgery as a donor. This book, while geared to recipients, addressed my concerns. There are several general chapters that most readers will want to read. Then, the book continues with chapters relating to specific concerns such as heart transplants, kidney transplants, each of the other organ transplants, relationships with the surviving family members of a donor, financial considerations, rejection of the organ, etc. The book clearly explains the system for getting on the "list" and the wait until a donor is found. It also describes the day of surgery as the recipient "gets the call" that an organ has been found. The surgery for each of the different types of organ transplants is lucidly explained. My main interest is living donors and there is a fine chapter on that topic. I found myself reading the book, nearly from cover to cover because I enjoyed educating myself on all aspects of transplants. The only chapter I skipped was one that is very specific on the medical regimen for combating rejection. However, for a potential recipient, this chapter would be of crucial interest (although of little interest to me as a donor). The information is very well organized and anyone with questions about transplants will find this book to be an indispensible reference.

I am a recent addition to the UNOS heart transplant waiting list and I have found locating information regarding organ transplantion rare. I was shown this book at my cardiac rehab facility and I am now online to order a copy for my family and I. I found this book to cover all major subjects relating to organ transplants. It is broke down in sections for easy reference. I was most impressed with the details of the surgeries for the different types of transplants and the insert of dialog from transplant receipents and medical personnel. I truly am very grateful to have read this book and I know that I will read it time and time again. This is also an opportunity for my family and friends to understand what is going to happen to me and how they can best deal with it. Thank you to Robert Finn for a job well done.