My blog a few weeks ago was about the memorial Candle Lighting Service my hospital holds every year to honor organ donors and their families.
I had a picture of me holding my donor's first name at the ceremony taken and I wrote another letter and sent it through the complex and secret process to the donor family. Just like I had to do when I wrote them the first time. I hoped they would like to see this photo of me honoring their son at this very special service. I want them to know how much his gift means to me and my family.
These communications, due to privacy and the delicate nature of transplant, move slowly. And the family can turn down receipt of the letter. So you never really know if they've received it, but choose not to communicate with you; whether they turned down receiving it; whether it hasn't arrived yet.
I am so hopeful this will be meaningful to my donor's family and that they got it and are deciding whether to get in touch with me.
And so I wait to hear.
I understand it may be too painful for them to reach out to me. I would very much like to meet them. Their letter to me said they were very interested in meeting the recipients. I filled out the release with my information so they could contact me. But they also have to fill one out and I was told they have not yet done so.
And so I wait.
Maybe they're just not ready. I can understand that. But if they reached out I think they might find someone who is so grateful it would give them some measure of peace. I hope so. I really hope they get this letter and picture and it gets them thinking about connecting with me. I have to respect whatever they decide, but I so want to thank them in person.
And so I wait.
If I do hear back, you can be sure I'll write a Blog post about it! My fingers are crossed and even if I don't hear from them, I pay tribute to their son every single day.
I had a picture of me holding my donor's first name at the ceremony taken and I wrote another letter and sent it through the complex and secret process to the donor family. Just like I had to do when I wrote them the first time. I hoped they would like to see this photo of me honoring their son at this very special service. I want them to know how much his gift means to me and my family.
These communications, due to privacy and the delicate nature of transplant, move slowly. And the family can turn down receipt of the letter. So you never really know if they've received it, but choose not to communicate with you; whether they turned down receiving it; whether it hasn't arrived yet.
I am so hopeful this will be meaningful to my donor's family and that they got it and are deciding whether to get in touch with me.
And so I wait to hear.
I understand it may be too painful for them to reach out to me. I would very much like to meet them. Their letter to me said they were very interested in meeting the recipients. I filled out the release with my information so they could contact me. But they also have to fill one out and I was told they have not yet done so.
And so I wait.
Maybe they're just not ready. I can understand that. But if they reached out I think they might find someone who is so grateful it would give them some measure of peace. I hope so. I really hope they get this letter and picture and it gets them thinking about connecting with me. I have to respect whatever they decide, but I so want to thank them in person.
And so I wait.
If I do hear back, you can be sure I'll write a Blog post about it! My fingers are crossed and even if I don't hear from them, I pay tribute to their son every single day.
This sits on my dresser in my room so I can remember
every day the gift I was given.
"Forever Young" - Bob Dylan
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