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A transplant recipient's guide for
writing to your donor family
Writing Your Letter
You may or may not receive a response from
your donor family. Please understand that
they are grieving and may not be able to
respond. Whether or not they write back to
you, your efforts are appreciated.
It may be difficult to find the right words to express the gratitude you have to your donor family.
Here are some tips for writing your first letter:
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Acknowledge your donor family’s loss with expression
of sympathies.
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Say “thank you.” This may not capture all of your feelings,
but it’s
a start!
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Tell them about yourself, your family, your hobbies
and interests.
-
Tell your story—explain how your transplant experience
has changed your life..
To maintain confidentiality,
do not include identifying information,
(i.e. last name, address, telephone number).
You may want to tell the family that you would like to hear from
them or meet them in the future and that you will respect their feelings
on this matter.
Sending your Letter
To protect the confidentiality of both the donor and
recipient, all correspondence is initially facilitated through
NJ Sharing Network. Once your letter is written, send
it to the address below. Include a separate sheet of paper
with your full name, address, phone number and date
of transplant. You will be notified by NJ Sharing Network
when your letter has been forwarded to your donor
family. Any letters we receive from the donor family
will be forwarded on to you directly or through your
transplant center.
NJ Organ and Tissue Sharing Network
Family Support Program
841 Mountain Avenue
Springfield, NJ 07081
In the future you and your donor family may decide to
contact each other directly or schedule a time to meet.
Before releasing personal information, NJ Sharing Network
requires that the donor family and recipient sign a
release form.
Additional questions or help?
If you have any questions or need additional help, please contact
Mary Ellen McGlynn, Manager Donor Family Support Program at (973)379-4535
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