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Message |
Kate/Jeremy's Mom
Member
Username: Dixieluvinchik
Post Number: 52
Registered: 06-2009
| | Posted on Monday, September 14, 2009 - 06:51 pm: | 
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Hey Everyone,
Today I received A big ole letter from Jeremy's liver recipient!!!
He is 63, doing well, He told me His Drs. were very pleased with the quality of his new liver.Their first goal was to get through the first 90 days and now the first 6 months.It seems that the 1 year mark is the critical time. Bless his heart, he is learning as he goes too.
He says he is on an enormous amount of drugs and they are hoping for a rejection free transplant.
it's the sweetest letter I've ever received. I'm going to write him back tonight. He said I could feel free to communicate anytime.I'm sending this site address again because his letter came from him, not our OPO. in case they marked it out.
Love to all!!!!!!!
Kate/Jeremy's mom |
Karen R.
Forum Leader
Username: Relivkaren
Post Number: 3537
Registered: 07-2007
| | Posted on Monday, September 14, 2009 - 09:34 pm: |
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Kate:
Wow! More letters! I am so happy for you! It's great to hear that Jeremy's liver recipient is doing well. I like the part about Jeremy's liver being top quality. I bet that made you proud.
I am sure he will be thrilled to hear from you again. I would definitely write to his address if he gave it to you. That way -like you said - the OPO won't mark anything out.
I am so happy that you are receiving letters. I hope you hear from the other recipients real soon!
Lots of hugs to you!!!
God Bless!
Karen
Dx: BOOP - May 2006. Rediagnosed with Bronchiolitis Obliterans Nov. 2006
Listed Feb 2008 - Waiting on double lung transplant at Cleveland Clinic
Ohio, USA
Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle. |
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gratefuldeb
Member
Username: Gratefuldeb
Post Number: 66
Registered: 05-2009
| | Posted on Monday, September 14, 2009 - 10:30 pm: |
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Yeah, Kate!
I'm so thrilled for you. I hope that you and Jeremy's liver recipient are able to stay in touch now that you have connected. I'll keep my fingers crossed that you hear from the other recipients soon.
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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Kate/Jeremy's Mom
Member
Username: Dixieluvinchik
Post Number: 53
Registered: 06-2009
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 - 08:54 pm: |
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Dear Karen,
I wrote straight to His phisical address,as I told Him, I keep thinking I'm going to cry, but you couldn't slap the grin off my face! I sent him one of the million copies of the slide show we had at Jeremy's funeral. Kristin is sending pics. when she writes.
I told him to drop by here& the address.(hint-hint) He would find answers if he had questions. Everyones fittness blogs.He can be annonomous.....
I told him some more of the things about Jeremy that CD had suggested, I said Jeremy was a chocoholic, so if he got a sudden urge for brownies, now he knows. I thanked Him for writing and letting me know he was OK.
I told him Jeremy was a great welder, at his job they were training him to be foreman, at 28 cause he was certified to weld anything. We were glad He worked at the fabrication plant, so he welded things they made, instead of chemical tanks, under water stuff. If he had the sudden urge to weld something, now he knows.HA!
I said Jeremy & Heather had such contagious laughs, and great senses of humor, they always cracked me up. Go ahead, tell that joke, You know You want to!
I closed soon after, so he wouldn't get afraid & move away.
Love you!
Kate
Deb,
If You two girls knew how much confidence You give me, You would probably scream. Thank You for being here & soooo supportive as so many have been.I'm so happy when I see Y'all have blogged.
Love You!
Kate/Jeremy's mom |
Karen R.
Forum Leader
Username: Relivkaren
Post Number: 3539
Registered: 07-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 - 08:21 pm: |
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Kate:
I am so happy for you! It's good to have a smile on your face. You did a wonderful thing giving life to this man with Jeremy's liver. I hope he does visit us here. Maybe he won't stay anonymous. It's okay if he does though. Keep up that excitement it's good for you!!
Love you too!
God Bless!
Karen
Dx: BOOP - May 2006. Rediagnosed with Bronchiolitis Obliterans Nov. 2006
Listed Feb 2008 - Waiting on double lung transplant at Cleveland Clinic
Ohio, USA
Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle. |
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Christena's Dad
Member
Username: Christenas_dad
Post Number: 354
Registered: 01-2009
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 - 09:53 am: |
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Dear Kate,
What a wonderful gift you have received. I can see that "silly grin" all the way up here in Kentucky and I am very happy for you. With this correspondence with the liver recipient and the news from the eye bank, I am sure you are on top of the world and you and your family see just how much Jeremy's wonderful spirit lives on. I hope this in some small way helps you to continue the healing process and that it allows you to remember the wonderful gifts that Jeremy has given to many others.
Strangely enough, I feel a hankerin' for a good brownie right now.
You have a great day, Kate!
Christenas Dad
Father of Double Lung Recipient at St. Louis Childrens Hospital June 2005
Kentucky, USA
Christenas Journey is at www.christenasjourney.com |
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Kate/Jeremy's Mom
Member
Username: Dixieluvinchik
Post Number: 58
Registered: 06-2009
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 - 03:39 pm: |
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Dear CD,
Tee-Hee-Snorty-Snort-Hee! Your closing sounded just like something Jeremy would say.
Kristin was even able to read his letter, even though She isn't ready to write just yet without crying. I'm going to her house tonight to spend a couple of days. She is going to get 2 wisdom teeth pulled tomorrow.I'll be there to try to take of her and the kids. Lord help me!
I'm going to get on her computer if I get a minute! I've been meaning to send You some pics. that she sent me of them. She told me I could use Her computer if I want to. Maybe before she gets back from the dentist.
I hope Y'all are doing good. Thank You for cracking Me up, I didn't even see that coming!
I will try to make time in the AM. to send You A message. Thank You bunches,CD!
You have A great day also,
Kate |
Hostess Rise'
Forum Leader
Username: Risa
Post Number: 10395
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 - 03:48 pm: |
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WOW! Kate
Sorry I somehow seemed to have missed this news. I am very happy to hear that you received a letter from Jeremy's liver recipient.
You are such a wonderful person.
Hugs!
Rise'
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Christena's Dad
Member
Username: Christenas_dad
Post Number: 356
Registered: 01-2009
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 - 05:32 pm: |
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Hey Kate,
If you need to email me, make sure you click on my username on the right side of my message and send me a private message. My email address has changed since I sent you an email when you first joined the group. The private message will go to my new email address.
Have a great day!
Christenas Dad
Father of Double Lung Recipient at St. Louis Childrens Hospital June 2005
Kentucky, USA
Christenas Journey is at www.christenasjourney.com |
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Kate/Jeremy's Mom
Member
Username: Dixieluvinchik
Post Number: 61
Registered: 06-2009
| | Posted on Thursday, September 24, 2009 - 10:12 pm: |
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Risa,
Ain't it great? I'm pretty sure He is approaching his 6 month mark, on the 13th of October, so far, so good. Don't they have to transplant within hours? I've been meaning to ask Y'all, I'm pretty sure I've read that.
Love,
Kate
CD,
Thank You, I was going to message You because I lost Your email address. I never got to get on the computer till now as "Baby Tazz" & I came back to my house. Heather stayed to take care of Kristin, and we have been playing all day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Maybe in the morning after he eats breakfast he will sleep long enough for me to log on.HA!
I'm going to get off after this so When I hear "Gammy,Gaaammy!" I will be able to roll my 52yr.old self out of bed!
Talk to Ya soon,
Kate |
Hostess Rise'
Forum Leader
Username: Risa
Post Number: 10408
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Friday, September 25, 2009 - 09:12 am: |
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Hi Kate
You can always Private message our members simply by clicking on the underlined name to your left in the message box.
Liver transplants have a larger window of time as compared to hearts and lungs.
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Kate/Jeremy's Mom
Member
Username: Dixieluvinchik
Post Number: 63
Registered: 06-2009
| | Posted on Friday, September 25, 2009 - 08:06 pm: |
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Risa,
I thought I remembered that was how to send a private message, but couldn't remember where I read it.
I had no idea different organs had different windows of time to get to the recipient. I am still amazed at the fact it can be done at all, sometimes! The strides they have made with tissue,bone,tendons,&skin is wonderful! OOOOOh, I hope that wasn't too graphic for anyone. I know most of us can handle it ,but if I offended anyone, I'm sooo sorry!
Gotta go, "Baby Tazz" is calling Me,
Love,Kate |
Kate/Jeremy's Mom
Member
Username: Dixieluvinchik
Post Number: 67
Registered: 06-2009
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 - 02:35 pm: |
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Hey Everyone,
I got a letter from a 39 year old wife, mom, & recipient of one of Jeremy's corneal tissues.
1st thing she says,"I would like to tell you,I thank GOD for Jeremy."She (has/had?)Fuch's disease.She said she feels like part of the family.
She never met someone who would tell a person everything about their child. (If she only knew, huh kids?)
When she first went to get her transplant,she was there for 4, or 5 hours for them to tell her the tissue was infected with Hepatitis.They kept testing it and kept coming up with the same results. (dry run?)
Right after they called her in and she received Jeremy's corneal tissue.
She is doing well,working 4:00PM till 12:30AM.She said,"Tonite I said I just have to write You,I could not wait any longer." "Jeremy may have died but he lives in me."
"Sometimes people may live or die to help someone else." "Jeremy helped me."
"Jeremy was a great and wonderful person." "He reminds me of my husband." "He looks after me and the kids." "He took me back and fourth to the doctors." She said.
In closing, she wrote,"Tell Jeremy's wife I will always remember her and the kids, but mostly for you." "You had him so if it had not been for you, it would not be a Jeremy,or his corneal tissue."
I told her she is part of the family! I thanked her for taking time out to write me. Please write again if she has time, I will enjoy her sweet letters.
Oh Lord, she is so humble, and precious. I am so Blessed to hear from her, and the liver recipient so soon!
Kristin scanned all of our papers,& letters, now we both have copies of everything, including, I now have a copy of the consent for donation paper she had to fill out at hospital.(As Janet said, each thing has to be gone over,and signed by next of kin.)
Also, I told her Kristin would write as soon as she finds time. With everything else, she had 2 wisdom teeth pulled last week. I just took Gabriel home yesterday.
I had to tell Y'all, and didn't have long enough on the computer to get it done.
Love,
Kate |
Hostess Rise'
Forum Leader
Username: Risa
Post Number: 10442
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 - 02:41 pm: |
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Hi Kate
I am so happy that you received another letter. Jeremy's cornea recipient sounds like a lovely lady. We have had two other cornea recipients join us here.
Hugs to you Kate!
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Meagan
Member
Username: Newheart14
Post Number: 256
Registered: 01-2009
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 - 03:20 pm: |
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Dear Kate,
I don't think you know me yet, but I have stayed in touch with your postings and remembered how you were nervous about your five letters. I am so happy that you are now receiving responses. I think I was a little nervous to respond before.
I always think of my donor family. I was blessed to receive a letter from my donor mom last Christmas. I have it preserved in archival plastic as it was my most precious Christmas gift ever. I have written her three times but I am laying off for a while as I don't want to stir up memories for her right now. I will never be able to meet her due to strict donor confidentiality laws in Canada so I appreciate your candor and your sharing your experiences with us.
I enjoy reading your posts. Thank you for sharing.
Meagan
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Kate/Jeremy's Mom
Member
Username: Dixieluvinchik
Post Number: 69
Registered: 06-2009
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 - 10:27 pm: |
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Rise',
It is such a comfort to get those letters. I never would have thought I would be smiling about reading them, but I am! It's OK to love Y'all, and his recipients,& still miss him with all my heart at the same time!
Love,
Kate |
Kate/Jeremy's Mom
Member
Username: Dixieluvinchik
Post Number: 70
Registered: 06-2009
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 - 10:46 pm: |
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Meagan,
I've loved reading your blogs! Aren't You the one that said, "If you could meet Your donor mom in person, you would put her hand to your heart,so she could feel it beating."????Whoever it was, I think it is awesome! I always picture it you saying it.
I thought You didn't know who I was! You are one of my Canadian buddies! While I have you here(well sort of) HA! What happened to Corner Gas? I got hooked on it and it stopped coming on WGN!
OMG! I need to get off of here,get rest, cause I may keep Gabriel,(my grandson,AKA,Baby Tazz) Ha! but really!
Love,
Kate |
Meagan
Member
Username: Newheart14
Post Number: 257
Registered: 01-2009
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 - 11:12 pm: |
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Hi Kate,
I had no idea you read my blabbering blathers. You deserve a huge trophy. As I get older I find myself talking too much and too long and being extremely long-winded. I am wondering if it was because I could not talk much before my transplant and now that I can breathe, thanks to my young donor, I never shut up. I am just happy I can do all this stuff.
I am so flattered to be one of your Canadian buddies and yes, I was the one who said if I could meet my donor Mom I would put her hand on my heart.
Unfortunately I never watched Corner Gas. I hate to tell you but I only watch the American shows ... haha. I love Dancing With The Stars and I am looking forward to the new show starting on Sunday - Three Rivers.
Have fun with Baby Taz. Grandchildren are amazing. We just found out that we are going to get little Alyssa a couple of times a week after Junior Kindergarten. I am so tickled. I love her to pieces. What is so great is that I actually have the energy to enjoy this sweet child whereas before I would just sit like a lump and look at her.
Hope you get a good sleep,
Meagan
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Kate/Jeremy's Mom
Member
Username: Dixieluvinchik
Post Number: 71
Registered: 06-2009
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 - 10:03 am: |
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Dear Meagan,
I don't think your blogs are too long ever! I love yours and Diane's. Everyone around here amazes me. I have learned so much from all of you. Then I tell everyone of my friends,&family.They smile and nod, say they will have to check it out, and never come. They don't know what they are missing!
Grandchildren are great, aren't they? My grandaughter,is Logan, she will be 10 in November. Gabriel will be 3 in March.My friends always said grandchildren were great, but they didn't say you love them as much as you love the child you gave birth to. I got to see Baby Taz be born, and I was jumping up and down like I had won both show cases on the price is right.
I see You are on facebook, I'll send you a friend request (or is that myspace?)Anyway, My daughter, Heather, put pics. of us in there. Both of them have pics. now. I've been nagging for them to put a pic. of me in here, but nooooo,they don't have time.
You, blabber? I think not! I'm going to try to go to your Facebook doohikey now. HA!
Love,
Kate |
Meagan
Member
Username: Newheart14
Post Number: 260
Registered: 01-2009
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 - 10:48 am: |
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Hi Kate,
I was actually thinking of starting a real blog as my favourite subject to yap about is Alyssa, my four year old granddaughter. You are so lucky to have so many grandbabies. There is something magical about grandchildren that I am still trying to figure out. My hubby and I adore this little angel and we can't get enough of her. We are looking after her this afternoon and I can't wait. She is the only grandchild we have. Being an "awesome" MIL I don't ask them why they can't have just one more as its their business and I am not a busybody, but my hubby has a bigger mouth than me and is not shy to blurt out "Having two is no more trouble than having one you know!". I have to tell him to shut up ... haha.
I got your Facebook invite. Like you, I still don't know all the ins and outs of it. I am hoping to upload more photos of Alyssa but it takes a while.
Have a great day Kate.
Love, Meagan 
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Karen R.
Forum Leader
Username: Relivkaren
Post Number: 3595
Registered: 07-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 - 01:25 pm: |
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Kate:
How wonderful that you got a letter from one of Jeremy's corneal recipients. I know these letters are precious to you. You are such a loving person. Your letters to the recipients must have just touched there hearts tremendously. I can't wait to hear that you have heard from all five of the ones that you wrote to.
Cherish each letter because I am sure they cherish the letters that you write to them. I think it is one more step forward in the healing process of your tremendous loss. You are one incredible momma!!!
Love you!
God Bless!
Karen
Dx: BOOP - May 2006. Rediagnosed with Bronchiolitis Obliterans Nov. 2006
Listed Feb 2008 - Waiting on double lung transplant at Cleveland Clinic
Ohio, USA
Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle. |
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Kate/Jeremy's Mom
Member
Username: Dixieluvinchik
Post Number: 72
Registered: 06-2009
| | Posted on Friday, October 02, 2009 - 02:19 am: |
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Meagan,
It is a great idea, to start a blog about Alyssa, lots of us have grandkids, so you will have lots of fans! HA! But really, it will be fun hearing, and telling about our silly stories.
I also agree about having two is no more trouble than one grandchild! Tee-Hee, I'm also an awesome MIL,but Kristin & I planned Gabriel. Not really,Ha! She told Jeremy if He wanted to try for a son, they better get on it, cause she wasn't getting any younger.He said ok, & before we knew it Gabriel was on the way! I do tell Jeremy's Dad to shut up, every chance I get though.HA!
Heather,(our daughter) put pics. of Jeremy,Kristin,Logan,Gabriel,all of us in facebook & myspace. I hope Y'all can see them, cause thats the only way it's going to happen. Of course I'm much slimmer, younger,more beautiful, and smarter, now than I was in those pics.Hardy- Snort-Har-Har!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm going to go before the stuff really gets deep!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love,
Kate |
Meagan
Member
Username: Newheart14
Post Number: 267
Registered: 01-2009
| | Posted on Friday, October 02, 2009 - 10:01 am: |
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Hi Kate,
I think I will start a blog eventually. It will be filled with lots of blatherings about Alyssa, my favourite topic of conversation.
It's great that you have a wonderful relationship with Kristin. My DIL, Glenda, and I are very close as well. She is a terrific person with a huge heart and the most amazing mom to Alyssa. I always made sure that I would never be like some of the moms you see on TV. Remember Doris on the Raymond show? Holy moly! When my son, Darren, and Glenda announced they were going to move back to our town, we were all joking about them running for cover when they saw us coming. It was really funny because at the time there WAS a house up for sale right across the street and we said, "Why don't you buy that one, then you can duck when you see us coming just like Raymond!". They were so wonderful while I was "waiting" and even before that when I was too sick to go and see them. They would make the 3.5 - 4 hour trip every two weeks to visit us. It was no easy task since Alyssa was just a baby. Now they live five minutes away which is so wonderful.
I checked out your pictures on Facebook. You look wonderful. Jeremy and Kristin were a beautiful couple and the kids are adorable. Did you check my Facebook page? I posted a few more pictures of Alyssa. I still have tons more pictures to post.
Have a great day Kate. Enjoy those beautiful grandkids.
Love,
Meagan
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Rob C
Member
Username: Rob_c
Post Number: 206
Registered: 09-2007
| | Posted on Sunday, October 04, 2009 - 12:39 pm: |
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How did they get your address? I would like to contact my donor's family but I have no idea how to get in touch with them. |
Kate/Jeremy's Mom
Member
Username: Dixieluvinchik
Post Number: 76
Registered: 06-2009
| | Posted on Friday, October 09, 2009 - 01:29 pm: |
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Hey Rob,
I'm sooo sorry I saw this only today!
At the hospital, where Jeremy died,& donated, our OPO rep.(Libby) said we could leave our names if we were interested in contacting, or being in contact with Jeremy's recipients. We left our names, & hoped some of them would also. As we walked to our cars that last night, (we couldn't stay for that last surgery.) Kristin,(his wife) ran up and told me "They all left their names!!!!!!"
I got the word from Libby,12, or14 weeks Post OP, We can write to Jeremy's Recipients now. I wrote 5 letters, tied a green ribbon around them, and sent them to Libby, at our OPO. In LA. it's LOPA (Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency.)
As you can read in some of our blogs, some OPO's aren't the same.
I would start by contacting Your OPO,and asking if they want to have contact,(they probably do) and find out if you left your name as wanting to have contact.
I hope you can get some results! Also make sense out of this long winded blog. Because we all left our names, I received the letters straight from the two out of five, I wrote.
Love,
Kate/Jeremy's mom |
Kate/Jeremy's Mom
Member
Username: Dixieluvinchik
Post Number: 77
Registered: 06-2009
| | Posted on Friday, October 09, 2009 - 01:58 pm: |
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Dear Karen,
I'm sooo sorry I never answered you! I've been messin up in facebook the last week. I haven't even been able to make much sense of it.
Please check out the pics. kristin,& Heather D. put in there for me, also there are more on myspace. You know how I do with pics.HA!
Love, Kate |
Rob C
Member
Username: Rob_c
Post Number: 212
Registered: 09-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, October 15, 2009 - 04:08 pm: |
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Hi Kate,
I don't even remember them asking me if I wanted to leave my name. I flew out there in a small plane and arrived in the middle of the night, and there was so much going on I can't remember really what was said. I can't imagine that I woud have said no if they asked me, because I am sure that if I died my family would want to know who recieved my organs. I am going out for my one year appt. in Nov. I will ask them then.
Rob |
Kate/Jeremy's Mom
Member
Username: Dixieluvinchik
Post Number: 83
Registered: 06-2009
| | Posted on Friday, October 16, 2009 - 10:40 pm: |
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Hi Rob,
They may not have have had the chance, or thought of it with so much going on at once. Good idea to bring it up to them. They could have let the moment get away... anything.
Kate/Jeremy's mom |
Marina
Member
Username: Marina
Post Number: 30
Registered: 08-2009
| | Posted on Friday, November 06, 2009 - 05:27 pm: |
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Hi Rob,
A few months ago I decided to write my late sister's donor family. I starter by getting in touch with the transplant hospital and asked them how to go about it.
They asked for my sis' full name, date of transplant.
they then asked me to write the letter and send it to them. As was told the letter could not contain any personal info recipient's full name, and the town they lived in. We were to mail the letter to the TX center, They in tun forwarded to OPO. OPO was to forward it to the donor family. If the family decides to write us, they will do so and mail the letter to OPO, who will then forward it to me.
One of the reasons it takes too long for this communication process is due to the confidentiality issues.
No info is given to recipient nor recipient families unless donor families decide to give out their address.
And even when they want to give out their address they're discouraged by OPO.
I had read somewhere that if we include any personal info OPO will cross it out and return the letter for corrections.
awaiting kidney-pancreas since Aug 22, 2008
California Pacific Medical center CPMC San francisco, CA
BELIEVE!!!!!!!!!! |
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