writing to transplant recipients and donor families
LifeShare supports written correspondence between transplant recipients and donor families. 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.
Provide General Information
• Keep identities anonymous and confidential...avoid including any last names, street addresses, city names or phone numbers.
• You may want to include your name or your loved one's name (first name only) as well as information about your/their job, family and
friends, hobbies and interests.
• 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 donor or recipient; for example, donor mom, donor wife, transplant recipient, recipient's mom, etc...
• Sign your first name only.
Mailing Your Card or Letter
• Place your card or letter in an unsealed envelope.
• Include 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.
• Place these items in another envelope and mail them to:
LifeShare Transplant Donor Services of Oklahoma
Donor Family Services Coordinator
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 Transplant Donor Services of Oklahoma at (405) 840-5551, ext. 145; or toll free at 1-888-580-5680, ext. 145; or email at LifeShare-Aftercare@LifeShareOK.org.
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.
Provide General Information
• Keep identities anonymous and confidential...avoid including any last names, street addresses, city names or phone numbers.
• You may want to include your name or your loved one's name (first name only) as well as information about your/their job, family and
friends, hobbies and interests.
• 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 donor or recipient; for example, donor mom, donor wife, transplant recipient, recipient's mom, etc...
• Sign your first name only.
Mailing Your Card or Letter
• Place your card or letter in an unsealed envelope.
• Include 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.
• Place these items in another envelope and mail them to:
LifeShare Transplant Donor Services of Oklahoma
Donor Family Services Coordinator
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 Transplant Donor Services of Oklahoma at (405) 840-5551, ext. 145; or toll free at 1-888-580-5680, ext. 145; or email at LifeShare-Aftercare@LifeShareOK.org.
