Correspondence between transplant recipients and the donor's family

Are you one of those who received a transplant and want to express your personal gratitude to the donor's family? Know that it is possible for you to do this through Transplant Québec coordinators.

The procedure to follow is very simple. You need to write two letters. One for the attention of Transplant Québec and the other for that of the donor's family.

The letter sent to Transplant Québec is intended for information purposes only. It should specify your name, the date of your transplant, the organ transplanted, the name of the transplant center where the transplant was performed, etc. This information is necessary in order to make the link between the donor family and you.

The second letter is addressed directly to the donor's family. Since organ donation is anonymous, anything that could identify you (name, address, etc.) should be avoided. In simple and sensitive language, the letter should allow you to express your appreciation and gratitude to the donor's family. It should be a way to express to him the importance you place on organ donation and the impact that this donation has had in your life.

All correspondence is anonymous. It is not allowed to mention: name, first name, exact age, address, telephone number, email address, hospital where you were transplanted, etc. Talk about yourself, your family, your favorite hobbies, or interests. Talk about your illness and health condition before and after the transplant. Explain how the transplant changed your life by sharing what you can do now and what you can do again. Talk about specific events that you have experienced since you were transplanted (birthday, wedding, birth, graduation, etc.). Conclude your letter with a general signature. Example: “a grateful receiver.”

Before sending the letter, Transplant Québec will ensure that the donor's family agrees to receive it. It should not be sealed in order to allow the organization to ensure that nothing in its content can identify you. If you wish, your letter can be published on the Transplant Québec website, which could inspire or comfort others.

Know that it is never too late to send a thank you letter to the donor's family. It is still recommended to wait a few weeks after the transplant to allow the family to recover from the emotional shock.

For more information, consult the Transplant Quebec brochure on this subject.

Transplant Quebec
http://www.transplantquebec.ca

4100 Molson Street, office 200
Montreal (Quebec) H1Y 3N1

Phone: (514) 286-1414
Fax: (514) 286-0615
Organ Donation Hotline 1-877-463-6366

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