Donor Families
Our donor families are the ones who make transplantation possible. Each time a family embraces the opportunity of donation, hope is restored to those in need and lives begin to change in wonderful ways. For many families, the opportunity to donate is viewed as a way to let a loved one's memory live on, to provide meaning from their death and to give their life a greater purpose. It is also the start of a very long and difficult process called grief. There are a number of organizations that provide comfort and support to donor families and the chance for families to meet others who have traveled down the same road. It may come as no surprise that most of these organizations have been created by donor family members themselves. Also, through the Strom Bryson Memorial Quilt project and by encouraging correspondence between donor families and transplant recipients, LifeQuest offers bereaved families ways to memorialize and honor their loved ones. For more information and support resources, please contact the Donor Family Services Program, (800) 535-GIVE or (352) 733-0350.
The National Donor Family Council was formed by a donor family to support the needs of organ and tissue donor families. This council aims to provide a safe haven for you as you learn to live without your loved one. Besides offering support literature and articles, their Web site also allows families the opportunity to communicate with other donor families through an online forum.
National Office: 1-800-622-9010
http://www.donorfamily.org
The Compassionate Friends (TCF) is an organization created by and for families who have experienced the death of a child. The organization has an extensive web site with information to help parents, siblings, and other family members, as well as online support groups. The national office can provide contact information to local groups.
National Office: 877-969-0010
www.compassionatefriends.org
The quilt project is a way for families to honor the memories of their loved ones and to let their gifts be recognized by others. The donor quilt project is open to all donor families in our area.
LifeQuest always encourages our donor families to correspond with transplant recipients, if and when they feel comfortable doing so. Our brochure,
Writing to Transplant Recipients, provides suggestions on how to write such a letter, as well as comments on why such an activity can be helpful to families.
