Because of a recent interest, of a just a couple people in this blog, I've decided to add of few more posts. A lot has happened in the last year and I may go into so of all of it, I will saw that MOST of it has nothing to do with my health or my heart transplant. For this one, I decide to post the text of the Thank You letter I have written to my donor family. I will give this letter to my transplant coordinator at my next clinic appointment and she will pass it on the family. The whole process is initially anonymous.
It may seem like 3 1/2 years is a long time to write this letter. However, I was not ready. Because of the sudden and unexplained nature of my illness and how quickly I got my transplant, it has taken me a long to to even begin to wrap my head around what has happened to me. I've finally reach a point where I could write such a letter late last summer. I wrote the letter. I felt that it was important for me to hand write the letter. So I decided I needed proper stationary and a proper pen. Yes, I was delaying and I don't know why. It is a short letter, hand writing it took about 10 minutes but it has taken me months to actually sit down and do it. I cannot explain why I was procrastinating. Tonight, I finally did, now all I have to do is remember to bring it with me on my next clinic appointment, which I have yet to schedule.
Anyway, here is the text.
Dear Family,
I hope that this letter finds you well. My name is Michael. On September 24, 2008 after a devastating illness, I received the amazing gift of life in the form of a heart transplant.
"Thank you" is an expression which is used quite often and sometimes just in passing. This is a different kind of "Thank you." It is a "Thank you" that defies any language. How can mere words express the gratitude that I feel for your loved one and you. Still, I would like to thank you for your generosity in giving a part of your loved one to me. I am very sorry for your loss.
Since my transplant I have made an almost full recovery, despite a few complications. My new heart beats strong and I consider it my greatest duty and pleasure to live my life to its fullest in honor of my donor.
Although, I feel the words are not adequate. Thank you.
Love
Michael
5 comments:
Michael! The letter sounds great! I hope this letter finds the donors family some closure and happiness knowing that you are doing great! I hope they write you back so that you can have that piece of the puzzle that is missing! I wish you the best!! :)
Michael, this letter is beautiful! It will mean a lot to your donor's family. What a great way to kick off 2012!
Michael, I have so much admiration for you. You have been through more physically and mentally than anyone but you will ever be able to understand. The courage it took to write the letter is tremendous. Equal is the strength it will take to bring it to the clinic and that is something I think you will know when you are ready to do... for yourself, with no expectations. (((HUG)))
Thanks Janna. I must say I never consider what I've been through as a transplant patient to any worse than any other transplant patients. Perhaps that's why I mostly prefer to not talk about unless someone asks. In which case I'm happy to talk in length about it. When I do need to talk about it, I have this blog. Thanks for reading.
Writing the first letter was soooo hard for me, not necessarily emotionally, (I mentally separated myself with the donor)but I did not know what to say, or how to say it, or if I would be offending them, etc. I volunteer a lot at the donor network and everyone really encouraged me to write the letter, I was finally so fed up from people telling me I needed to do it, that I just did it! The family wrote RIGHT back-like it was postmarked that day! We are meeting in May at the donor family gathering.
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