Letters

Dear Donor Family,

I am writing to thank you for the organ donation from your loved one. I am very sorry for your loss, and I want you to know that your gift has given me a chance to live a normal, productive life.

I needed a transplant because I am a 40+ year type 1 diabetic. In spite of my diligent control my kidneys started to fail approx 20 years ago. I’ve been on the transplant list since 1996.

Since the transplant, I have been able to look forward to being a grandparent and living a longer life with my beautiful new wife. You and your loved one made it possible for me to experience a more normal life and enjoying my days with my family and friends.

For this, I am very grateful to you and your loved one. My family and I … Read more »

Dear Donor Family,

I have been having trouble on how to write this letter of appreciation. My kidney transplant is the most monumental thing to happen to me. It has left me overwhelmed at times I have felt at least 50 levels of joy and appreciation. I also feel a Profound Sadness and a sense of suffering and loss.

Before my transplant I had missed my nephews wedding. My husband who I have been married to for 35 years loved to travel and long drives in the rain, and sometimes stayed out for days. All of this came to a stop when I lost my kidney. It seems my whole life became so small I was so sick every other day…

My donor family has made it possible to maybe one day see my grandchildren too see my grown sons age and my beautiful daughter … Read more »

Hello Dear Family member,

My name is J., a 52 year old Mother of 5 adult children and 5 grand children. Since the day I went home from my liver transplant the desire and need to write to my donors family has been on my mind. What do I say? What words do I use?

There is no comparison to what your family gave me. So I first need you to know that I believe God or something greater than us both orchestrated. I had died twice on the operating table. I was bleeding out. Nurses and doctors could not find out where I was bleeding. I had no idea what happened. I do remember being admitted to the hospital. I used the bathroom in my room. Noticed a dark purple color come out. The nurses lied me down in my bed. They said … Read more »

Dear Donor Family,

It is with much gratitude that I write to you for the liver transplant of your loved one. I am very sorry for your loss.

Your loved one’s gift to me has given me a chance at a new life. I had liver cancer. Now with the transplant I can continue to provide care for my aging parents and spend time with my grandsons and watch them grow. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without the gift of the transplant.

I am 67 years old and a retired single father of two boys and two grandsons. My parents, two sisters and one brother live near me. As a family we gather together often. I like traveling, hiking, bicycling, and enjoy nature. I can’t wait to take my grandsons camping and fishing like I did with my sons.

I will … Read more »

Dear Donor Family

On behalf of O.S., O. and A. (sons) and myself, I would like to thank you for generous gift of life you provided to husband on December 15, 2016. Your donation came to be my husband’s Christmas miracle and a blessing from our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

His speedy recovery with your organ donation made us reflect on the importance of this issue. My family has decided to follow your footsteps into organ donation, there is no doubt that we must develop a conscience to let other people overcome a health challenge by donating the gift of life.

My husband almost did not have the opportunity to fulfill his dream of having his son graduate from UCDavis, but with your gift, he will be able to be at his graduation commencement this June 2017. I have attached a photo … Read more »

Dear Donor Family,

I am writing you just a few days before the end of the year. I have been searching for the right words to write you for a few months now, wanting to make sure that I was able to express in writing how grateful I am to you and your loved one for the gift you have given me.

I am so sorry for your loss. I hope you have been able to find peace and find strength in those around you to honor and remember your family member.

Before the transplant, I had type one diabetes for 22 years and was going through kidney failure waiting for a donor match that would save my life. I have struggled for so many years living with diabetes and have undergone two retinal reattachment surgeries to keep me from going blind in … Read more »

I want to thank my donor for the gift of a kidney. I had been on dialysis for three years and had thought that I would be waiting at least two more years before receiving a kidney. Then I was called from UCSF and asked if I was ready to receive a new kidney. I received my kidney transplant last May and have been doing very well.

While on dialysis, my life was restricted because of the time it took me to set up and perform dialysis at home. I had trouble with blood pressure and felt tired.

Since receiving my kidney, I have been able to exercise, eat better, live a more normal life. I want to send heartfelt thanks to the donor’s family for their sacrifice in giving me and my family an improved life. I also want to convey our … Read more »

Dear Recipient,

It is with sadness and hope when I write to you about Robin, our daughter, your donor. We wanted to share some information to you about Robin. She was a daughter, sister, aunt, granddaughter and fiancée.

Robin decided to be an organ donor as a teenager, and as a nurse in ICU and Neurology she knew how important that is. She took great pride in helping not only the patients in her care, but their families as well.

She lived life to the fullest. Whether it was uptown in a mall shopping with me, or in the woods hunting with our family. She fit effortlessly into the role of hunter, gatherer, fashionista, daughter, and friend. She filled her free time with reading, working on a Masters of Nursing, competing as a sponsored blue belt in Jiu-Jitsu, and loving the people in her life … Read more »

Dear Donor Family,

I am having difficulty finding the correct words to thank you for the gift of life that I received. Words fall continually short in being able to express my gratitude adequately. Your ability to make the decision to donate a loved ones organs is the most unselfish act that I can imagine. Due to your act of courage during a time of great tragedy, I have been able to be the recipient of a life change kidney transplant. I am forever grateful for the gift of life that I and my family has received.

I needed another transplant as the kidney I was so lucky to have received many years ago failed just a year ago and I was back on dialysis for approximately 1 year. I was trying hard to make dialysis work for me and my family, and was … Read more »

Hello,

First and foremost, we would like to offer our deepest condolences for your loss. Our hearts are heavy knowing you are grieving the loss of your loved one while we celebrate the renewed health of our loved one. When we received the call that an organ had become available we prayed not only for our loved one but also for your family. Your family has been in our thought and prayers ever since.

Please know that your loved one’s kidney went to an amazing individual. A person who makes this world a better place. A person who will never abuse or take this gift for granted.

When I asked him what he is most excited for, with this second chance at life, he said he is excited to simply feel better. To have energy once again. To be able to drink … Read more »