Dear donor’s family,

MY father had been ill for nearly 20 years and was suffering terribly.

Then, in late May, 1988, that call came offering your gift of life. Our joy and happiness were unconfined.

Dad’s life was transformed as were ours. He lived and loved for many, many years to come, spending all this new life with his family. He was there for family weddings, and to meet his many grandchildren that came along. Now as adults they have had the privilege of knowing him and being loved by him. It is of immense joy to me that he was alive to meet and share my children’s lives. He was also there to help us at the times when life didn’t go our way. His support and love at these times was invaluable.

Many, many years later I became aware that our family had not written to you to express our deep sorrow for the loss of your loved one. Nor did we write to express our everlasting thanks to you for your generosity at a time of horror and trauma for your family. So I would like to do that now. We are eternally grateful to you. Our family’s joy was born of your sorrow. Your loved one has not been, and will never be, forgotten by our family. I want you to know that your loved one was prayed for every night and at every annual transplant mass, candles were lit in his/her honour.

Please forgive our family for not writing to you at the time when you needed to hear from us.

I have no doubt that your loved one was as wonderful a person as you all are because your gift of life can only come from a family who know what love and life is all about.

Thank you so very, very much.

Name and address with Editor