Writing to your loved one’s transplant Recipients
The decision to write to your loved one’s recipient(s) is a very personal and powerful experience. Donor families sometimes choose to write to transplant recipients to share information about themselves and their loved one. For some families, sharing with their loved one’s transplant recipient(s) helps them in their grief journey. We encourage you to write if and when it feels right for you. Anyone in your family may write, but we will always let the immediate next of kin know about the correspondence.
Please note: There are differences in writing to organ, eye and tissue recipients.
If your loved one was an organ and/or eye donor, you may make the initial contact and write whenever you feel ready. You do not need to wait to hear from your loved one’s organ and/or eye recipients.
If your loved one was a tissue donor, and you’ve received a letter from a tissue recipient, your family may then respond accordingly. If you have not received a letter from your loved one’s tissue recipient(s), please contact us so that one of our Donor Family Advocates can explain the writing process to you in more detail.
Sending A Letter to Your Loved One’s Recipient(s)
If your loved one was an organ or eye donor, you are welcome to mail a card or letter at any time to those recipient(s), or use our online tool below to submit your correspondence electronically. You may also include photo(s) of your loved one or family.
If there is more than one recipient, you can write a separate letter for each recipient or LifeSource can copy your letter and forward it to each recipient.
If you prefer to mail your correspondence: Place your correspondence in an unsealed, unstamped envelope. Include in the envelope on a separate piece of paper:
- Your full name
- Your contact information, if we have questions
- Your loved one’s full name
- Your loved one’s date of death
Send your correspondence to:
LifeSource Donor Family Advocate
2225 West River Road North
Minneapolis, MN 55411
Submit Correspondence Electronically
If you prefer to send your correspondence electronically, please fill out the form below.
Letter writing FAQs
Organ or Eye Recipients
If your loved one was an organ and/or eye donor, you do not need to wait until you hear from the recipient(s) before you write. You may make the initial contact and write whenever you feel ready. A letter from your family may encourage a recipient to write, knowing that your family is ready and willing to receive correspondence. You may send a greeting card, letter or photos.
Tissue Recipients
If your loved one was a tissue donor, the process for writing to recipients is unique. Unlike organ and eye donation, where recipients are identified during or shortly after donation, tissue may not be transplanted for up to five years. Because of this timeline and the manner in which tissue is transplanted, the recipient needs to initiate contact. If you’ve received a letter from your loved one’s tissue recipient(s) from us, and we’ve indicated that you can write back to them, your family may then respond accordingly. In other words, it is not possible for your family to send correspondence to a tissue recipient until they reach out to you. Please be assured, your loved one’s generosity will always be remembered by those whose lives are restored.
Share anything that feels right to you. Recipients appreciate learning about who your loved one was, how they lived their life and what made them special. Donor families sometimes choose to share information about themselves.
Share general information:
- Your loved one’s name
- Your loved one’s hobbies or interests
- Favorite story or memory of your loved one
- Photos of your family and/or loved one
- How your loved one’s donation has impacted your life
- If sharing your faith, please consider that the recipient may have different spiritual beliefs.
Closing your letter:
- Sign your name (include your last name if you feel comfortable).
- If you’re interested in having direct contact with the recipient, include your contact information so the recipient has the option to reach out to you directly, if they would like.
A Donor Family Advocate will review your card or letter and then forward it on to the appropriate transplant center or tissue partner who will, in turn, forward it to the recipient(s). Since your card or letter must be received by LifeSource and then forwarded, please allow extra time for it to reach the recipient(s). It may take several weeks after you’ve sent it for the recipient(s) to receive it.
Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that you will receive a response. Many transplant recipients have said that they are overwhelmed with emotion and have difficulty expressing their gratitude in words. Some may take several months or years before they feel comfortable writing to their donor family.
If you would like to communicate directly with your loved one’s recipient(s), please express that in your letter and, if you feel comfortable, include your contact information so they can reach out to you. You might consider sharing your email address or phone number initially to see if they respond. Please contact our Donor Family Advocates at familyservices@life-source.org or 1.888.536.6283 if you have questions about initiating direct communication. We are happy to facilitate those next steps.
Have questions?
If the right words seem hard to find, or you have any questions or concerns about writing, please contact a LifeSource Donor Family Advocate at familyservices@life-source.org or 1-888-536-6283. You may also contact one of our Donor Family Advocates below:
