Letter Writing (Donor Family)

Corresponding with your loved one’s recipient(s)

As a donor family member, you may wish to communicate with the recipient(s) who benefited from your loved one’s donation. Writing to the recipients and sharing bits of information about your loved one can sometimes be a comfort and is also highly meaningful to recipients.

VisionGift encourages and facilitates all correspondence between donor families and cornea recipients. We protect the identity of both donor families and recipients. If you would like to write a letter to the recipient of your loved one’s donation, please use the following guidelines as recommended by the National Donor Family Council.

Sharing about your loved one

  • Include first names only.
  • Feel free to share familial information such as marital status, children and grandchildren and information about his or her occupation, hobbies, and interests.
  • Please avoid revealing too much medical information about how your loved one died.
  • Use simple language.
  • Do not get too personal in the initial letter.
  • 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 your card or letter in an unsealed envelope.
  • On a separate sheet of paper, please write your name, the name of your loved one, and the date of the donation.
  • Place the letter and the paper in another envelope, seal it and mail to:

VisionGift
Attn: Partner Relations
2201 SE 11th Avenue
Portland, OR 97214-5303

Please understand that you may or may not hear from the recipient. Keep in mind that all recipients have experienced a debilitating illness. While some recipients may respond immediately, others may find it difficult initially.

Thank you for taking the time to write. We understand how challenging it can be to write this kind of letter. But we also know that recipients appreciate hearing from the families of their donors and that this type of communication is quite important to them as well.

Questions? Email matt@visiongift.org