Sandra Tyler
Organ Donor
/July 17, 2018
July 17 I got the call no one wants to hear: your mom has been in a horse accident. She fell off JB. You need to get to Erlanger immediately. It’s bad. So, I started the long drive from Georgia to Chattanooga, scared not knowing. When I got there, I was crushed. Mom had a brain injury most people do not survive. I know my mom. She loved people, and animals and would do anything to help anyone so her donating wasn’t a question–not realizing that she had already chosen the gift of life. We lost mom but her legacy lives on thru her kidney, liver, cornea, and tissue donations. I am so honored that Mom’s legacy lives on.
Saying thank you
Many donor families find that corresponding with the transplant recipient or recipients can be a powerful experience. Donor families can take comfort in sharing stories and sending well wishes to those who live on because of their loved one.
Should you choose to connect, we're here to help. Letters and cards can be a tremendous gift to both the donor families and recipients. To protect everyone, we provide guidelines for communication. Names remain confidential unless both parties agree to share those with one another, and we provide a correspondence address. We are happy to share sample letters to help you get started.
For more information about corresponding with recipients, please call us at 615-564-3649.
