Writing the Donor Family and Transplant Recipient
LifeShare supports correspondence between transplant recipients and donor families through traditional mail or digital correspondence. Initially, all correspondence is completely anonymous, and identities are kept confidential.
The decision to write to the transplant recipients or donor family is a very personal one and may not be right for everyone. Sometimes, donor families and transplant recipients choose to correspond to share information about themselves and their loved one. For some families, this sharing helps with the grieving process and also allows transplant recipients the opportunity to express their gratitude for the gift of life.
If you would like to write to your donor family or transplant recipients, here are some general guidelines to help you.
*A Note to Tissue Donor Families: If your loved one was a bone, tissue, heart valve or skin donor, unfortunately, there is no way for you to initiate communication with tissue recipients. However, if a recipient first writes to you first, you may respond.
Provide General Information
• Only include information you are comfortable with sharing about yourself and your loved one. This may include occupation, hobbies, interests, or special things your loved one enjoyed.
• Keep identities anonymous and confidential...avoid including any geographical locations, last names, phone numbers, email addresses, or social media profiles. Due to LifeShare's confidentiality policy, this information will be omitted if included in any letters.
• You may include your name or your loved one's name (first name only).
• Be thoughtful if you are including religious comments; please consider that the religious beliefs of the transplant recipients or donor families are unknown.
Closing Your Letter
• Identify your relationship to the organ donor or organ recipient; for example, donor mom, donor wife, transplant recipient, recipient's mom, etc.
• Sign your first name only.
Submit Your Letter Online
• Fill in all required fields in the online form below.
• You may choose to submit a Word file, PDF, or photo to be forwarded with your message.
• Once you click submit, you will receive a confirmation email at the email address you provided to let you know that your message has been received by LifeShare.
The decision to write to the transplant recipients or donor family is a very personal one and may not be right for everyone. Sometimes, donor families and transplant recipients choose to correspond to share information about themselves and their loved one. For some families, this sharing helps with the grieving process and also allows transplant recipients the opportunity to express their gratitude for the gift of life.
If you would like to write to your donor family or transplant recipients, here are some general guidelines to help you.
*A Note to Tissue Donor Families: If your loved one was a bone, tissue, heart valve or skin donor, unfortunately, there is no way for you to initiate communication with tissue recipients. However, if a recipient first writes to you first, you may respond.
Provide General Information
• Only include information you are comfortable with sharing about yourself and your loved one. This may include occupation, hobbies, interests, or special things your loved one enjoyed.
• Keep identities anonymous and confidential...avoid including any geographical locations, last names, phone numbers, email addresses, or social media profiles. Due to LifeShare's confidentiality policy, this information will be omitted if included in any letters.
• You may include your name or your loved one's name (first name only).
• Be thoughtful if you are including religious comments; please consider that the religious beliefs of the transplant recipients or donor families are unknown.
Closing Your Letter
• Identify your relationship to the organ donor or organ recipient; for example, donor mom, donor wife, transplant recipient, recipient's mom, etc.
• Sign your first name only.
Submit Your Letter Online
• Fill in all required fields in the online form below.
• You may choose to submit a Word file, PDF, or photo to be forwarded with your message.
• Once you click submit, you will receive a confirmation email at the email address you provided to let you know that your message has been received by LifeShare.
Mailing Your Card or Letter
• In an envelope addressed to LifeShare, include your card or letter and a separate piece of paper with the donor or recipient's full name, date of donation or transplant, the hospital where the donation or transplant occurred and your full name and relationship to the donor or recipient. Also include your contact information to be used by LifeShare only.
Mail to:
LifeShare Transplant Donor Services of Oklahoma
Attn: Aftercare
4705 NW Expressway
Oklahoma City, OK 73132
Allow Extra Mailing Time
• It may take a few weeks after you have mailed your card or letter for the transplant recipient or donor family to receive it. Letters will
be reviewed to ensure confidentiality.
If you need further information about writing to transplant recipients or donor families, please call LifeShare at (405) 840-5551, or toll free at 1-888-580-5680, ask for the Aftercare Department; or email at LifeShare-Aftercare@LifeShareOK.org.
• In an envelope addressed to LifeShare, include your card or letter and a separate piece of paper with the donor or recipient's full name, date of donation or transplant, the hospital where the donation or transplant occurred and your full name and relationship to the donor or recipient. Also include your contact information to be used by LifeShare only.
Mail to:
LifeShare Transplant Donor Services of Oklahoma
Attn: Aftercare
4705 NW Expressway
Oklahoma City, OK 73132
Allow Extra Mailing Time
• It may take a few weeks after you have mailed your card or letter for the transplant recipient or donor family to receive it. Letters will
be reviewed to ensure confidentiality.
If you need further information about writing to transplant recipients or donor families, please call LifeShare at (405) 840-5551, or toll free at 1-888-580-5680, ask for the Aftercare Department; or email at LifeShare-Aftercare@LifeShareOK.org.
