Graduate Certificate in Human Donation Science

Transplant Recipient - Donor Family Correspondence

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Transplant Recipient - Donor Family Correspondence
Life Connection of Ohio supports written correspondence between recipients and donor families. You may include first names, the state in which you reside and photographs, however, identities must be kept anonymous and confidential. Do not use any last names, street addresses, city names, phone numbers, and names of hospitals or physicians. For transplant recipients, be sure to recognize the donor and thank the family for their gift. For donor family members, feel free to share information about your loved one. Both letters can be extremely difficult to write and can cause powerful emotions.

In order to keep anonymity, follow these directions. If you are a transplant recipient, place your card or letter in an unsealed envelop. On a separate piece of paper, write your full name and the date of your transplant. Place these items in another envelop and mail it to your transplant center. There, your letter will be reviewed to ensure confidentiality. The letter will be forwarded from the transplant center to Life Connection of Ohio. An organ procurement coordinator may contact you to request permission to forward the correspondence. The letter is forwarded to the donor family.

If you are a donor family member, place your card or letter in an unsealed envelop. On a separate piece of paper, write your full name, the full name of your loved one and the date of donation. Place these items in another envelop and mail it to Life Connection of Ohio. There, your letter will be reviewed to ensure confidentiality. A coordinator may call you to request permission to forward the letter. It will be forwarded to the transplant hospital and then to the transplant recipient.

This process may take several weeks and you may or may not receive a response. For more information, contact carends@lcodro.org in the Dayton area or nellis@lcotro.org in the Toledo area.