Matching Donors.com Paul Dooley Bait and Switch , Internet

It's wonderful that you donated to save someone's life through matchingdonors.com. I wish there were more like you throughout the world. And since you did donate, and they facilitated your connection to a recipient (you did say that they facilitated the match, didn't you?), all power to them in that respect.

But without coming up with their exorbitant (for me) membership fee, I was able to match with a truly wonderful donor, who saved my life two years ago through an organization that IS a registered 501c3 charity and does nothing but find donors to match with the potential recipients that have registered with them. And they match more than half the altruistic kidney donations in the entire USA every year.

So people like I was, who are stuck with the expensive, draining and painful ritual of dialysis treatments several times per week to keep them alive, do have hope with MANY other resources other than the very expensive matchingdonors.com.

I am extremely grateful to the organization that helped me, and even more so to my donor, who remains the best friend I have on Earth even though we only speak a few times per year. And even more grateful that the experience with the perceived ripoff by matchingdonors.com spurred me to look for other resources that worked much better for me.

I truly hope that many many more people come forward to offer their extra kidney no matter which resource they come to. There are still about 100,000 people in the US waiting for kidney transplants, and many of those are in dire need, and may not survive without the help of someone like you. That is only one of every 3000 people in this country. The odds are not prohibitive. Much better chance than winning Powerball, but in this case someone's life will be saved!

Dan

Englewood, NJ

Perhaps read this article on the company. I am from UK and was going to join but didn't having read many articles against them this is just one of them and the author found them to be no good also

livingkidneydonation.co.uk/questions-for-matchingdonors-com.htm

I do not blame you for being skeptical. We are all inherently skeptical about all most everything. Usually being skeptical is safe but in your cases, it could be a life and death situation. So what can I say that will convince you that Matching donors is not your everyday snake oil wagon. everyone knows it takes money to run a site like this correctly. It does sound like a ripoff to a person who languishes on dialysis. Renal failure will make a person feel so alone; being that a completely hopeless situation is at hand. know this: this is for real. People just like you are out there who have made the decision to join and it has saved thier lives.

I have personally met with Paul Dooley and Jeremiah Lowney and I stand behind what they are doing for people who need transplants. You may be thinking: who is this guy? He must work there. No I do not but I was the first person to donate to Matching Donors. There are two sides to this coin. I just want to tell you how very real and special this website is. Never mind that they ask you to become a member. Just do it. These guys aren't selling you an organ. I would say the membership fee is an obstacle but its just an obstacle. Overcome it and get well. There are people that will raise money for this if you need. Start a fundraiser. I know; we all want everything for free but most of us know that is unrealistic. 

Let me tell you about my friend Bob Hickey. He was very skeptical, very skeptical Of this process. Like you, Bob believed this was a scam. He felt compelled to give it a try because he could at least prove this was indeed a ripoff and expose it. However, to his disbelief his phone rang ( because his number was posted for potential donors to call). It was me. Can you just imagine how it felt for both of us to have that first of many communications that led to he and I meeting meeting for the first time ( just days before surgery).

He was very skeptical but kept moving forward. We had quite a battle, he and I. The media hounded us , out families  didn't really understand, I was treated like a criminal for helping this man. I just told myself that this is what it's really like if I want to do something good in my life. I can hardly believe it was me having this epic adventure. It was like a movie, a nightmare, and a wonderful dream all together and it was me. I made world history they say. Every newspaper bore my name and I never felt more alive to be a part of this amazing adventure. 

Guess what? There are others like me out there. Meet yours and have urge adventure of your life. You think that a membership fee stands in your way? Ha I say. Wait till the doctors try to scare your donor away with lies and beauracracy! Wait till your insurance co try's to screw you or does! this will be an adventure with ups and downs, I won't lead you astray. This is an undertaking of nothing like you have ever been a part of. My advice is to look in your closet for your brave suit. 

You are a survivor, overcome the obstacles, be proactive. Refuse to listen to the doctors who benefit from your illness. I'm sure they make more a day than the fee you are complaining about. I know that your illness heaves you too tired to put up much of a fight anymore. I hope you find it inside; the strength to simply believe that you can rise up and meet your obstacles and overcome them. We will be waiting for you at the finish line my friend. 

What a hell of an experience!

While I understand the concern of those who can't afford to pay the fee to join Matching Donors, I have to say that I have had nothing but positive experiences with that organizaton. When I first heard about them througha news program, I was skeptical but knowing that finding a living donor was my best hope for my kidney failure, I decided to research their program. I spent several days reading through their website, reviewing their statistics and discussing their fee with my husband. Yes, 600 dollars is a lot of money for many people, but I considered the fact that it was a Lifetime membership and the access that I would have to so many potential donors. The potential beneftis outweight the risks and so I saved the money and joined.

I was not disappointed! All and all, I've had a wonderful experience with Matching Donors! While I have very high antibodies and the potential for me to find a living kidney donor is limited, I wouldn't even have a chance if it weren't for Matchingdonors.com. I've had 12 altruistic donors get tested for me and several of them made it to the more comprehensive evaluation process. I had the opprotunity to meet (on-line) some of the most caring and supportive people out there. These people ask for nothing in return, just the opportunity to help make someone's life better and each and everyone of them who tested for me increased my hope that I would someday find someone that was a match.

I've read on this site that some consumers feel that they are "baiting and switching" or that they are grifters, but that couldn't be further from the truth. They're fee schedule is broken down into a couple of different categories and while the lifetime subscription costs the most up front, it's cheaper than their monthly or quarterly subscription. Once you've purchased a Lifetime subscription, you never pay another fee.....I've been a member for 3 years and I've never paid, nor have I been asked to pay another dime.  None of the potential donors have ever asked me for a dime either and while you do have to be cautious (anyone can join for free that wants to be a donor) and screen potential donors to ensure that they are U.S. citizens and aren't trying to rip you off, the majority of people who want to donate are truly atruistic individuals. Many of them have read stories in the newspaper about other altruistic donors in their communities and are inspired to help out. Some have already donated kidney's and are willing to donate bone marrow or portions of their liver. These people are good people and I hate seeing the site and those who've joined it so that they can donate, be disparaged by people who don't really know what they are talking about.

There's a member in a group I belong to who has no love lost for Matchingdonors and so I decided to do a search to see how many negative reviews are out there. I wasn't surprised when I found very few, nor was I surprised to see that they were members of the BBB and in good standing.....that's been my experience. I hope that anyone who's looking at joining their site does their own research and determines if it's something they can afford and would benefit them. If they have the same experience I've had, the wont be disappointed.

Hi, Dan--

The name of my site is Living Kidney Donor Search. Originally, I created it for myself when I was searching for a living donor. After I received my transplant, I modified it so that others could use it as well.

In addition to being a place where would-be recipients can post their stories, the site provides painstakingly researched information about living donation for those who may be considering it. I do not do any actual matching myself, as the site does not maintain a donor pool. However, occasionally people who want to donate to anyone contact me, asking for a recommendation of who they might donate to. I can facilitate those kinds of connections. 

The address is LivingKidneyDonorSearch.com. You can see examples of other peoples stories by clicking on OUR STORIES.

To see what you need to do to be listed, go to FOR DONOR SEARCHERS > FIND YOUR DONOR. There are page-by-page directions that guide you through writing a top-notch story, choosing suitable photographs, etc. from beginning to end. It may look like a lot of rigmarole at first, but the process is actually quite simple. The detailed directions simply make it easier for both of us to come up with a well-written, nice-looking page that will appeal to readers. It will be well worth your time, as we get about 4,500 visitors per month...some of whom have volunteered to be living donors.

Once you reach the "Find your Donor" page, follow the directions until you reach the page titled After Your Page is Published. After youve written your story and gathered your photos, use the Contact Me link to send them to me. 

Unlike Matchingdonors.com, there is no charge, and there are no catches. It's simply my way of paying forward the generosity that my living donor showed me.

Heres hoping you and your donor find each other soon!

Dear SK,

You say that you have a website that also matches donors and recipients. Could you please post the web address? I would like to register on your site. Maybe you may help me find a donor... and at the same time we can build the reputation of your site. :)

Thank you very much!

If you haven't considered joining matchingdonors.com and haven't looked carefully at their site, you should be cautious criticizing those who have.  I too am on the waiting list for a transplant.  Their site just looks questionable.  

On the first page there are lots of ways to advertise on the site, many big-name advertisers listed, and ads for donating cars, boats, or real estate.  So what does all this money go to?  It doesn't really say.  Yes, they say there's a database you can access if you join, but the summary of their services for patients is:  

"MatchingDonors is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization supported by patient membership fees, advertisements and donations. Every patient that signs up for a membership will receive many services, and you should contact MatchingDonors.com to help with using all of our  services."

Even on the page where you join, no services apart from the database are listed.  What are the "many services"?  Asking me to join before I find out is shady.  Period.  Whoever created the site may indeed be altruistic, but they need to be forthcoming with what is included for patient members, and, IMO should re-design their site to look less like "Give us your money, then we'll talk!

So let me get this straight.  This nonprofit is saving the lives of people and giving away free services to the underpriveleged, children and poor and you are pissed because they are not giving free services to you and "Chandra" because you have a job and you can afford to pay for services.  WOW, you must be a catch, the women must be throwing themselves at you.  What a jerk you are.  Let me guess... are you two single living in your mother's basement pissed at all the homeless people and orphans who aren't working?What jerks.