Write Your Donor Family
Receiving the gift of sight is a very special gift,
one that certainly deserves a thank you. We encourage cornea transplant
patients to send a thank you to their donor families.
Many donor families find great comfort in knowing
that their donation has improved the lives of others. Finding the
words to express a thank you to the donor family can be challenging.
Here are some suggestions for sharing your transplant
experience and your gratitude with your donor family.
How to begin
You may want to send a greeting card or a letter
telling them about yourself. Here are some suggestions for writing
to your donor family:
- Begin with, “Dear Donor Family”.
- Acknowledge the donor family and thank them for
their gift.
- Tell them about your family situation: marital
status, children, and grandchildren.
- Do not include names.
- Write about your job, hobbies or interest.
- Use simple language.
Share your experience
- Describe how long you needed a transplant and
how it affected you and your family.
- Explain the difference a transplant has made
in your life, e.g. you returned to or started work or school.
- Tell your donor family about the routine things
that you couldn’t do before, but are able to do now (reading,
driving, ect.).
Sign your card or letter
- Sign it, “A Grateful Recipient”.
- Do not include a return address or phone number.
- Do not identify yourself.
Send your card or letter
On a separate piece of paper write your name and
date of surgery so The-Eye Bank can identify your donor family.
- Place your card or letter in an unsealed envelope.
- Place both these items in another envelope and
mail to:
The Eye-Bank for
Sight Restoration
120 Wall Street
New York, NY 10005
Confidentiality
To ensure recipient and donor confidentiality, it
is our policy that any correspondence between donor families and
recipients be made through The Eye-Bank with out revealing the identity
of either party to the other. Once your card or letter is received
it will be forwarded to the donor family.
When will I hear from the donor Family?
Any reply from the donor family will be promptly
forwarded to you. Not all donor families are prepared to respond
right away, if at all, so please be patient and understanding.
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