The Blood Type Conundrum: Type O Needed

There are 4 different blood types. The most common blood type in the population is type O. The next most common is blood type A, then B, and the rarest is blood type AB. The blood type of the donor must be compatible with the recipient. The rules for blood type in transplantation are the same as they are for blood transfusion. Some blood types can give to others and some may not. Blood type O is considered the universal donor. People with blood type O can give to any other blood type. Blood type AB is called the universal recipient because they can receive an organ or blood from people with any blood type. The chart below shows which blood type can donate to which.

If your blood type is:	You can donate to these blood types:
TYPE O	TYPE O, A, B, AB
TYPE A	TYPE A, AB
TYPE B	TYPE B, AB
TYPE AB	TYPE AB

(source)

Bob is Type O, which is most restricted when it comes to receiving donations.  It also means that none of his immediate family -- wife or children -- can donate directly to him.  His wife Grace is of blood type AB, meaning she cannot produce any children with blood type O.

And while national kidney exchange registries do exist, the prioritization of these processes (plus the fact that Mayo Clinic does not participate in most of them) means that even if we were to rely on that route, the wait time would still be pretty lengthy.  We've been told that going through an exchange program would still likely take two years.  This is still being explored as a back-up plan, but given the relative urgency of Bob's situation right now, it can't be our only focus.

That is why we have created this webpage, to articulate the need and hopefully enlist a potential Type O donor.  In addition, we have put some efforts together on a Facebook page and a Kidney Walk Fundraiser page.


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