The decision to write to your loved one’s transplant recipient and his or her family is a personal one. For some donor families, choosing to write to a recipient can help in the grieving process. The decision is entirely up to you.
The Utah Lions Eye Bank works with recipients of cornea transplants and are happy to facilitate communication between a donor family and the recipient.
Confidential Communication
By allowing the Utah Lions Eye Bank to contact the recipient on your behalf, we can make sure your personal information stays confidential.
Information to Include
If you choose to write to a transplant recipient, you may want to include the following information:
- Your loved one’s first name
- Your loved one’s job or occupation
- Your loved one’s hobbies or interests
- Your family situation (i.e. marital status; if you have children or grandchildren)
It is important to note that we do not know the beliefs of your loved one’s transplant recipient and their family. Please keep this in mind before making any religious comments. Please also use simple language.
Sending Your Message
Please address your letter, card, or note to “Transplant Recipient.” At the end of your message, please sign your first name only.
To maintain confidentiality, please do not include your address, city, phone number, email address, name of the surgery center, or name of the physician.
On a separate sheet of paper, please write your full name and the date of your loved one's passing. Then, include this sheet with your message. This information will help us make sure your message gets to the right recipient. We will not send your personal information to the recipient.
Hearing Back from Your Recipient
You may or may not receive a response from your transplant recipient. Some recipients may take months or even years before they feel comfortable communicating with their donor family. Many transplant recipients have difficultly expressing their gratitude in writing, but are still grateful for the selfless gift they have received.