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The decision to write to organ recipients is a very personal one. Sometimes, donor families choose to write to organ recipients and their families to share information about themselves and their loved one. For some donor families, this sharing with the recipient helps them in their grieving process. Whether or not you decide to write to the recipient is your choice.

Mid-America Transplant Services (MTS) facilitates written correspondence between the donor family and organ recipients. All correspondence is completely anonymous and identities are kept confidential.

If you would like to write to the organ recipient(s), you may send a card or letter. The following guidelines may assist you in deciding what type of information to include:

Provide general information such as:
  • Your loved one's first name only.
  • His or Her job or occupation.
  • His or Her hobbies or interests.
  • Your family situation such as marital status, children, or grandchildren.
  • Since the religion of the recipient is unknown, please consider this if you are including religious comments.
    • Closing your card or letter:
  • Sign your first name only.
  • Do not reveal your address, city, or phone number
  • Do not reveal the name of the hospital where your loved one died.
    • Mailing your card or letter:
  • Place it in an unsealed, unaddressed envelope.
  • Place the plain envelope in a mailing envelope and on a separate piece of paper include your full name, address, phone number, your loved one's full name and the date of donation.
    • Mail to:
    Mid-America Transplant Services
    Donor Family Support Services
    1110 Highlands Plaza Drive East, Suite 100
    St. Louis, MO 63110

    Allow extra mailing time:
    MTS staff will review your card or letter to ensure confidentiality (information that may breach confidentiality will be taken out) and will forward it to the transplant center. The transplant center will then send it to the recipient.

    Since your card or letter must be mailed to MTS first and then forwarded, please allow extra time for your letter to reach the recipient. It may take a few weeks for the recipient to receive your correspondence.

    Reprinted with permission from LifeSource, Upper Midwest Organ Procurement Organization, Inc.


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