--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Living with a single kidney is almost…" description: "\"Living with a single kidney is almost exactly like living with two; the remaining kidney expands to take up the slack. (When kidneys fail, they general..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f94/virginia-postrel-2867_advantage_living-with-a-single-kidney-is-almost-ex_2183663.jpg" --- # Living with a single kidney is almost exactly like living… ![“Living with a single kidney is almost exactly like living with two; the remaining kidney expands to take up the slack. (When kidneys fail, they generally fail together; barring trauma or cancer, there's not much advantage to a backup.) The main risk to the donor is the risk of any surgery.” quote by Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f94/virginia-postrel-2867_advantage_living-with-a-single-kidney-is-almost-ex_2183663.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f94/virginia-postrel-2867_advantage_living-with-a-single-kidney-is-almost-ex_2183663.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f94/virginia-postrel-2867_advantage_living-with-a-single-kidney-is-almost-ex_2183663.jpg) > “Living with a single kidney is almost exactly like living with two; the remaining kidney expands to take up the slack. (When kidneys fail, they generally fail together; barring trauma or cancer, there's not much advantage to a backup.) The main risk to the donor is the risk of any surgery.” [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A single kidney compensates for the loss of the other, showing the body's resilience. **In simple terms:** One kidney can function like two. Key Takeaway Trust the body's ability to adapt. Themes health resilience medicine Mood informative cautious Type educational medical When to use this quote - organ donation decisions - medical counseling - personal health planning Key Concepts organ donation physiology Questions to Reflect On - What are the long‑term health implications of donating a kidney? - How does the body compensate after organ loss? A Different Perspective Surgery risks remain despite organ adaptability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advantage/) [Almost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/almost/) [Any](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/any/) [Backup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backup/) [Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) [Donor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/donor/) [Exactly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exactly/) [Fail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fail/) [Generally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generally/) [Kidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kidney/) [Kidney Expands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kidney-expands-4727139/) [Kidneys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kidneys/) [Kidneys Fail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kidneys-fail-3408764/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living/) [Main](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/main/) [Much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/much/) [Organ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organ/) [Remaining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remaining/) [Remaining Kidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remaining-kidney-4727138/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Single](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single/) [Single Kidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single-kidney-4727137/) [Slack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slack/) [Surgery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surgery/) [Take](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/take/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Trauma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trauma/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) ## Related quotes > [I hope his kidneys fail, how about that? 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When I was diagnosed, I was told by doctors my kidney,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuvraj-singh/the-battle-against-cancer-has-made-me-strong-it-s-like-winning-a-war/) [Yuvraj Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuvraj-singh/) > [It started last year, during the summer. I went to the doctor and they found out it was kidney stones, so they had surgery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-phillips/it-started-last-year-during-the-summer-i-went-to-the-doctor-and-they/) [Phillip Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-phillips/) ## More by Virginia Postrel > [The low point for neon came in 1982, when Holiday Inn did away with its signature 'Great Sign,' replacing the neon extravaganza with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/the-low-point-for-neon-came-in-1982-when-holiday-inn-did-away-with/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > ['The Matrix' is a movie that is all about glamour. 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