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Your gratitude changes because of organ failure...

Transplants | Last Active: Mar 2, 2020 | Replies (39)

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@gaylea1

@rosemarya @contentandwell ... I finally wrote my letter of gratitude to my donor family and submitted it to my transplant coordinator.for mailing. Here it is:

Hello Dear Family,
On November 28th 2018 two very important events occurred changing both our family's lives dramatically.
You lost a loved one and I was extended another lease on life.
My family and I send you our deepest sympathy. It must have been very difficult losing a loved one especially at that time of the year.
For my family it was the opposite. As you were saying goodbye we were rejoicing with the special gift of a life saving organ.
I was very ill the previous three years.
I am the mother of two children, a sister a daughter an aunt and a wife. We had much to celebrate as I could now live to see grandchildren and spend more time with my family.
Because of the liver transplant I am now regaining my health and hope to live a long and happy life.
That day I received the greatest gift a person could ever wish for - life.
We can not thank you enough for your loved one's selfless act.
A part of your loved one resides in me and I will cherish it and never forget the wonderful person who gave me the gift of life.
Most Sincerly,
Your organ donor recipient.

I hope that they get at last a little solace with this.

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Replies to "@rosemarya @contentandwell ... I finally wrote my letter of gratitude to my donor family and submitted..."

I’m quite a wait until I received a transplant (my MELD is not high enough for Duke to place me on their list). I have long thought about the person and family who will be suffering the loss. Your note is quite well written, and I am sure with great sincerity. I’m glad to have this as a model for me in the future. By the way, I celebrated my 70th with my family this Thanksgiving. Congratulations on your anniversary.

@gaylea1 This was a great submission you sent in. When you were finished, how did you feel? For Bill [my husband] when he wrote his donor family, it was a difficult task, as he is not prone to voice his feelings, but he felt compelled to let the family know his thoughts and gratitude. I am sure the donor's family will be happy to hear from you, even if they decide to not communicate back to you. We never heard from our donor family, unfortunately.
Ginger

@gaylea1 That's truly beautiful. It brought tears to my eyes. You expressed so well what we all feel.
JK