Teenager with Four Kidneys

That's great!

There should definitely be some kind of social-networking site for people with multiple organs... I (or actually, all the males in my family) have three kidneys myself, and would like to meet people like this.

Hooray!

That's pretty awesome - not often in life that someone can do something and know they have REALLY made a difference in someone else's life.

What a waste, she should sell them!

But, an excess of organs - while cool because they are important organs - is a genetic defect right? So if she donates those kidneys then wouldn't the genetic defect be passed over?

@ schnitzelboi - well, you could make the website yourself, be it's founder!

@Jennifer

inhereting an organ doesn't change your DNA, so it woudln't be passed on. Unless the kidney somehow had an *additional* mutation that caused it to alter the DNA in a person's reproductive cells (sperm/eggs). but that would be very odd. (a donated ovary, on the other hand, would be much more probable)

Evolution is nothing but mutation, passed on into prevalence. Perhaps humans are starting to grow extra kidneys for a reason? To combat the chemicals/etc in our modern processed food? Something like that?

If that's the case, just a guy, wouldn't it be wise to hang on to them?

No, because 2 is more than enough for a healthy person. I see no reason to Bogart extra kidneys when there are so many in need. Kudos to this young lady. I'd like to think we'd all do the same thing if we could.

Dang, i'd hit her !

Well that's pretty much the definition of selfless, good on her.

@ just a guy

So, we couldn't just farm additional kidneys by promoting this defect through transplanting the organs from people who have developed additional organs?

My daugter has 3 kidneys. Thogh, the deal with her though is that the two on the same side are attached and about half the size of a regular one, so she should probably just hang on to hers.

@ Jennifer
No, putting a kidney (or any organ) in someone else would not make their offspring more likely to have extra kidneys (or organs). with perhaps the possible exception of reproductive organs. If you wanted to promote extra kidneys, for example, you could take this girls ova and give them to many people who needed them to have kids (assuming she was for that, of course). Since her eggs would have her DNA, her kids might have extra kidneys (whether or not they grew in her uterus or someone else, they are still genetically her offspring).

@ L
It *might* be wise to hang onto them... she'd have a much better survival rate VS kidney failure, for sure. But AbbyJoy said, she probably will be fine with just 2, like everyone else. I think donating them is a lovely act. (also, donating or not, her kids could have them too, if it's a genetic mutation and not a just a birth 'defect').
Still... how nice would it be to have 2 hearts if you happen to suffer a heart attack in one of them...?

a friend of mine was born with 4 kidneys. doctors thought she had tumors or something for the first 2 years of her life. eventually they figured it out and realized she had 4 kidneys and that she was fine.

Well, at least it something happens to a family member or friend who requires a kidney transplant she'll be (hopefully) the first one to step up.

mucho respect yo.

Now that she knows she has four kidneys, the question is whether or not all of them are functional. In a lot of cases, extra kidneys are dysfunctional or inactive. All three of mine happen to be up and running, but what about all of hers? I'd be glad to hear if all of hers were fine, too, which would mean that she really could donate those kidneys after all.

That's nothing. I had a patient with one and a half livers, three spleens, a heart on her right hand side and three kidneys. She was essentially fine.

I wish I had a few more eyes. Or a million fingers.

http://www.matchingdonors.com/

My daughter has 2 on her left side and none on her right. Found out when one ruptured. I find it strangely comforting that so many people share similar oddities.

Hello all,
I am a 43yo woman suffrdd wetting be till 10 ( shame is the ultimate sleer) I coped it from all sides mum, dad doctors you name it. found out I had 3 kidneys, ok fine lved with that till 18..... swet
I got pregnany with my first child......................what happened ZI had a ULTRA SOUND well to my surprise I now have at 18 years old 4 fully operational kidneys...................
Tell me 20 odd years have gone by and I still Pee prefusely as an adult, I caNT DRINK AFTER SAY 8 AT NIGHT IF i DONT WANT TO BE UP ALL NIGHT.
i LIVE IN A VERY HUMID CLIMATE IN aUSTRALIA AND IT CAN BE VERY TRYING WHE YOU GO OUT.

I am happily married wih 3 children and 4 grand children.

I have met a lady who share the same hobbie as me and in passing she tells me she hyas a kidney disorder............... Oh My Word............
now what do I do?????
Anyone who has insight into this problem please dont be shy or dis misss my request I need help.

what do I do?
I am blood incompatable with my kids and husband., as in when i had my children I had to have an injection straight away as our blood may have mixed, what ddddoes this mean.
My personal email address is
tracey_lee12@bigpond.com
Please if htere is nayone else like me or has a insight on to what I should do please let me know. I do not check this site so use the address I have provided if you can give me input.
Cheers
Tracey

i also have 4 kidneys,
have done since birth.
doctors had no clue what was wrong with me except that i screamed a lot.
after a lot of test they finally figured it out.
mine are the same as lauras.
all four are fully functional and independant.
i wouldnt mind donating them,
if the chance arose.
i think it would be pretty amazing to know youve helped someone like that.

I was born with three kidneys too. I have never had any prolems with the kidneys themselves, just a problem with how they were hooked up when I was a kid. But I am not 35 and haven't had any problems since I had my surgery at 2.

I also have 4 kidneys and i can donate any of them because they are all working as one. It is really depressing because know people that i could donate to and 2 kidneys go along way.