Family Services
Donor families are at the heart of Legacy of Hope
The Donor Family Program supports donor families during their grief walk by supplying them with answers to questions about the donor process, and by providing grief literature. We also provide information regarding how to write to recipients as well as providing updates on their condition (when requested). Communication between donor families and the recipients completes the circle. It heals the hearts of the grieving families as well as promotes healing within the recipients as they take the opportunity to acknowledge the miraculous gift made possible by their donor.
If both the donor family and the recipient make the Aftercare Coordinator aware they would like to establish direct contact, the coordinator will assist in the process. The donor family and recipient must have established a relationship by written communication. Both parties must also agree to sign a release of information form before identities are revealed to each other.
We encourage the donor families to participate in the annual Celebration of Life Picnic. This is an event that brings recipients, donor families, living donors, clinicians, Legacy of Hope personnel as well as physicians together to celebrate LIFE. This event provides time to remember the donors who made the transplants possible.
Legacy of Hope holds an annual Donor Recognition Service for the donor families whose donation occurred in the previous year. This is a time for the donor families to honor their loved one surrounded by others who have experienced a similar loss.
Alabama Donor Family Quilts are a patchwork of memories, lovingly created primarily by donor family members. For more information and to view the quilt squares click here.
Every two years, donor families and recipients can participate in the Transplant Games of America. At these games, recipients participate in Olympic-style sporting events. Donor families participate in workshops, memorial services and tributes.
The Aftercare Department can be reached with questions by calling 1-800-252-3677 or e-mailing aftercare@legacyofhope.org.