Benefits of organ donation captured in patient letters

Wednesday November 10th, 2010

A new book has been published to celebrate organ donation success stories. It contains letters and photographs sent from patients to the families of their donors.

These touching stories, which are generally anonymous, are written by recipients from a variety of backgrounds and from all walks of life. They express deep appreciation to the families who agreed to donate their loved ones' organs.

The book "Thank You for Life" was officially launched yesterday (November 9) at the headquarters of the Royal College of Physicians in London, UK.

Speaking at the launch, transplant patient Helen Eccles said: "I am delighted and very proud to be supporting this book celebrating the generosity of donors and their families who, at a time of inconsolable loss and grief, give complete strangers like me the chance of health and happiness because that is what their loved ones wished for."

Helen received a liver transplant in 1996, and contributed her letters as well as a painting for the cover of the book.

Professor Andrew Burroughs of University College London, helped compile the book. He said: "We wished the book to represent a medium through which all donors and their families, past, present and future, are publicly thanked and celebrated. We encourage anyone reading these letters to think about how much can be done by donating their organs for others."

After a transplant, recipients and the donor family can communicate via hospital transplant co-ordinators. This often brings great comfort to the donor families.

Sally Johnson of NHS Blood and Transplant said: "Our Specialist Nurses play an important role. They are responsible for arranging the exchange of letters from recipients to their donor families, whilst maintaining the anonymity of both donor and recipient."

Tags: Heart Health | Internal Medicine | UK News

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