Oomis
” And if your own kidney fails for some reason, you will never have the other one to take over.”
if you get kidney failure it would affect both kidneys, the only way only one kidney gets affected is with cancer or physical injury to the kidney itself (and as my boys can assure you I do not play football!)
As to your comment about saving your kidney for the future for a relative, you have the chance of not being a match (I not only was not related to recipient but I am sephardic and he is ashkenaz, and we were a perfect match), or you might develop unrealted medical conditions that might prevent you from donating. The way I see it, if chas vechalila any of my relatives needs a kidney I certainly hope that someone will step up to the plate and help them out, just like I did.
Having never undergone surgery before, I did not know what recuperation would be like, but I had a wonderful support system. I left the hospital after two days, and my sister took care of me for the next week. As I stated earlier, I was back working (from home for the first week) a week after the surgery.
Thanks for your good wishes!