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gratefuldeb
Member
Username: Gratefuldeb
Post Number: 20
Registered: 05-2009
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 08, 2009 - 04:50 pm: | 
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Hello All,
I posted a thread on the Transplant Exchange page about this, but Risa suggested I post here as well. I just want to share with you that I will be meeting my heart donor's mom for the first time this weekend. We have been in contact for about two months now, and have developed a wonderful relationship over the phone. My donor was a beautiful and kind woman named Robin. Her mom, Dorothy, asked me to call her as soon as possible when she received my letter. Our conversations have been comfortable from the start, and each has lasted well over an hour.
I can't begin to express the emotions that I am going through. I am so excited to be meeting the family that has given me a second chance at life. Although I have experienced many of the pitfalls of transplantation, I feel so much better than I did last year at this time, and I want Dorothy to see how much this new life means to me. My donor, Robin, and I share many similar characteristics, especially our love of animals. When I received the first letter from Dorothy, I gathered my two dogs on my lap for comfort. The first thing I took out of the envelope was a memorial card from Robin's service that showed her holding her two dogs. I knew then that the reason I had felt from the start that my new heart was such a good fit was that we were so much alike.
Organ donors and their families are heroes, just ask anyone who has been blessed to receive the gift of life. Thank you all for your unbelievable generosity during the darkest of days. I hope it helps to hear how thankful we are. And, for anyone reading this who has received a gift but has not yet attempted to contact their donor family, please try to find the words to express your appreciation. I know how difficult it can be to write that letter, as I started my letter several times before finally finding the right words, but even the experience of putting your thoughts down on paper is healing. You may never hear from your donor family, as the pain of their loss may be too raw of a wound to reopen, but the reward if you are able to connect is priceless.
All the best,
Deb
Debra
Heart Tx 9/08
Stanford University Medical Center
Dx: Right sided heart failure due to a rare form of muscular dystrophy
I have a beautiful new heart from a wonderful donor named Robin, to whom I will be forever grateful.
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Sarah's mom
Member
Username: Sarahs_mom
Post Number: 115
Registered: 02-2009
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 08, 2009 - 08:59 pm: |
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Hello Deb,
I am having trouble this evening finding the words to express how I feel after reading your post....so I will make this very brief for now and just say I will be thinking of you think week-end when you meet your donor's mom. Such powerful emotions on both ends of this situation!
This web site has helped me to get to know Alex and his family better and I am so grateful for any tidbit of information about him (the boy who received my daughter's heart).
I will close for now. Thank you for reaching out to your donor family!
Sincerely,
Kristen
Sarahs mom, Kristen
Donor family
Florida, near Pensacola.
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gratefuldeb
Member
Username: Gratefuldeb
Post Number: 23
Registered: 05-2009
| | Posted on Thursday, July 09, 2009 - 12:16 pm: |
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Thanks, Kristen! Your kind words mean a lot to me. I look forward to sharing news of my visit when I get back home next week. There is something about sharing a heart with someone that makes our connection extra special.
Love,
Deb
Debra
Heart Tx 9/08
Stanford University Medical Center
Dx: Right sided heart failure due to a rare form of muscular dystrophy
I have a beautiful new heart from a wonderful donor named Robin, to whom I will be forever grateful.
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gratefuldeb
Member
Username: Gratefuldeb
Post Number: 27
Registered: 05-2009
| | Posted on Thursday, July 16, 2009 - 06:26 pm: |
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I have posted a follow-up to my post "Meeting my donor's mom for the first time" on the Transplant Sharing page. Kristen, I hope that you get a chance to read it. The experience was wonderful.
All the best,
Deb
Debra
Heart Tx 9/08
Stanford University Medical Center
Dx: Right sided heart failure due to a rare form of muscular dystrophy
I have a beautiful new heart from a wonderful donor named Robin, to whom I will be forever grateful.
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Sarah's mom
Member
Username: Sarahs_mom
Post Number: 117
Registered: 02-2009
| | Posted on Thursday, July 16, 2009 - 07:36 pm: |
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Ok, I'm going to try to find it now.....I've been thinking of you and wondering.....
Kristen
Sarahs mom, Kristen
Donor family
Florida, near Pensacola.
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