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Fact Sheets

Contacting Your Donor Family

Although the decision to write your donor family is very personal, many transplant recipients want to know about the person who donated the organ they received.

If you choose to write to your donor family, the following information guidelines may make the process easier:

Confidentiality

Although there is no law that a donor's family and the organ recipient cannot meet and know each others' names, all OPOs have policies to protect the privacy of both parties.

Writing Your Letter

What information should I include?

  • Your first name only
  • The state where you live
  • Recognize the donor family's generosity and thank them for their gift
  • Describe how long you waited for a transplant and how the wait affected you and your family
  • Explain how the transplant has improved your health and changed your life
  • Describe the impact of your transplant on your own family
  • Explain what has happened in your life since the transplant
  • Mention if you are married, have children, grandchildren, etc.
  • State your hobbies or interests

What information should not be included?

  • Do not include your address, city or phone number
  • Do not include the name or location of the hospital where your transplant surgery was performed, or the names of your transplant health care providers
  • Use caution when including religious comments, as you do not know the religion of the donor's family

    • How the process works

    Although each transplant center has different procedures for contacting donor families, the following guidelines may help you when drafting a letter or card. For specific recommendations, talk to your transplant team.

    Mailing your card or letter:

    1. Place your card or envelope in an unsealed envelope.
    2. Include a separate piece of paper with your full name and the date of your transplant.
    3. Place these items in another envelope and mail them to your transplant center.
    4. Allow extra mailing time. It can take several weeks for your letter to reach the donor family.

    Once the transplant center receives your letter:

    1. The transplant center will forward your letter to your OPO.
    2. A coordinator from the OPO will review it to ensure confidentiality.
    3. The coordinator will then contact the donor family to ask if they wish to accept correspondence from recipients.
    4. If the donor family does not wish to communicate, the OPO will inform your transplant center accordingly.
    5. If the donor family does wish to communicate, the OPO will forward your letter to them.

    Will I hear from the donor's family?

    You may or may not hear from your donor's family. Some donor families may feel that writing about their loved one and their decision to donate helps them in their grieving process. Others choose not to write to the organ recipient.

    If the donor family chooses to respond, they will send a letter to the OPO. The OPO will then forward the response to you.