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The decision to write to your donor family is a very personal one.

Sometimes, transplant recipients choose to write to donor families to express their
gratitude. In response, many donor families have said that a card or a personal note
from the recipient offers some comfort. Whether youdecide to write is your choice.

Southwest Transplant Alliance supports written correspondence between donor
families and recipients. All correspondence is anonymous and identities are
kept confidential.

If you would like to write to your donor family, you may send a greeting card or a letter.

Here is some information you may want to include:
Talk about yourself
Include your first name only
Include the state (but not city) in which you live
Include your job or occupation
Include information about your family members
Include your interests/hobbies
*since the religion of the family member is unknown, please consider this if
you are including religious comments
Talk about your transplant experience:
Use simple language
Recognize the donor family and thank them for their gift
Describe your wait and what it was like
Explain how the transplant has improved your health and your life
Describe any important milestones since your transplant (a birthday or a
wedding?)

Closing Your Letter
Sign your first name only
Do not include your address, city or phone number
Do not include the name or location of your hospital or your physician

Mailing Your Card or Letter
Send your card or letter to the coordinator at your hospital, or to
Southwest Transplant Alliance, 5489 Blair Road Dallas TX 75231
A STA representative will review it to ensure confidentiality and will then
forward to the donor family
*Place your card/letter in an unsealed envelope
*Include a separate piece of paper with your name and your transplant date
*Place these items in another envelope and mail
Allow extra mailing time:
Since your card or letter may be mailed to the transplant center and then
reviewed, please allow extra time for it to reach the donor family (this may
take a few weeks).

Will I hear from the donor family?
You may or may not hear from your donor family. Some donor families have told us that
writing about their loved one and their decision to donate has helped them in their grieving process. Others though, prefer privacy and choose not to write to the recipients of their
loved one's organs.

Remember, individuals manage grief in different ways.
Please...communicate in a sensitive manner.


Writing to Recipients >