You can also send a message using this form: (click to open)

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Writing to Recipients – Legacy of Hope

Writing to Recipients

Unfortunately, tissue donor families cannot write to their loved one’s tissue recipients unless the recipients have initiated correspondence first. Please email aftercare@legacyofhope.org if you have questions.

How is/are the recipient(s) doing? How do I find out?

Contact between a donor family and a recipient family is limited by the Legacy of Hope rules of confidentiality and privacy for all participants in the donation process. If both parties agree, written contact is accomplished by an exchange of letters through the Aftercare Coordinator, who acts as a third party. All correspondence is anonymous and identities are confidential. Keep identities anonymous and confidential by NOT including any last names, street addresses, city names, phone numbers, email addresses, names of hospitals or physicians. All letters will be screened for confidentiality and appropriateness. If there is a concern with your letter, an aftercare coordinator will contact you; so please make sure we have your contact information available. If you wish to send a card, letter or picture; you may send it to the address below or via the online form on this page.

What should I say?

Write about information you feel comfortable sharing about yourself and your loved one who donated their organ(s) and/or tissue. You can include information about other family members. Feel free to discuss your loved one’s occupation, hobbies or special things your loved one liked to do. Recipients are genuinely interested in details about their donor. After all, this person has had a profound effect on their life.

Will the recipient(s) respond to my letter?

Recipients almost always appreciate the opportunity to hear from the donor family about their donor. However, some feel unable to express their emotional response adequately on paper. Many feel so indebted; they find words inadequate to express their gratitude. Therefore, there is no guarantee that you will receive a response. The timing of a reply will vary with individual circumstances. Please do not feel that your expression of interest is unwelcome. Your concern for these people who benefited from your loved one’s generosity is greatly appreciated.

Since some of the recipients live a great distance away, please allow several weeks for the exchange of correspondence to occur.

How do I mail my letter?

With your letter, on a SEPARATE sheet of paper, include either the CHART NUMBER or THE DONOR’S NAME AND DATE OF DONATION. We need this information to identify the recipients.

Mail your letter with identifying information to:

Aftercare
Legacy of Hope
421 Richard Arrington Boulevard South
Birmingham, AL 35233

You can also write via the online form below

If you have any questions, please contact: Aftercare Department at 205-801-7353 or aftercare@legacyofhope.org.

Sample Letters

Feel free to use these documents as a guide for your own letter.