Writing Your Letter

Things You Could Include

Writing a letter to the transplant recipient(s) may feel overwhelming and difficult. Here are some suggestions to help you get started:

  • Wish the recipient(s) well
  • Tell them about your loved one — his or her name, interests and hobbies.
  • Tell them about yourself — your age, family composition, hobbies, interests, job (without the company name), and geographic state are all non-personal identifiers.
  • Discuss why your family or loved one made the decision to donate.
  • Consider including artwork or a photo of yourself and/or your loved one — you can add up to three image files in your letter on TNet.

What to Avoid

  • Details about medical information or cause of death.
  • Pressuring your recipient(s) to meet or write back.
  • Strong language and profanity.
  • Threats, requests for money, or any other obviously inappropriate content.
  • Identifiable personal information — it is recommended you maintain your anonymity in your early letter exchanges. Some OPOs may restrict the sharing of such personal information altogether. More info about this is provided in the next section.

Your Anonymity and Confidentiality

Organ donations are handled as anonymous gifts. Each OPO has different policies and procedures regarding information that may disclose your or your loved one’s identity, such as full name, email address, phone number, social media accounts, location, and hospital. If you plan to provide personal or contact information in your letter, please keep in mind that a reviewer may edit it out.

Click here for a comprehensive list of OPOs and their website links if you would like to check the policies and procedures of your OPO.