Bereavement
The Grief Journey
What We Do
Donor Family Services offers various programs, services, and educational materials to support the families and loved ones of organ and tissue donors.
Our 30-month support program includes advice from grief therapists, ways to commemorate your loved one, opportunities to connect with other donor families, communication with recipients, and options to volunteer or engage with support communities both in person and virtually.
We hope this information helps you on your grief journey.
Bereavement Support Program
LifeNet Health’s Donor Family Services offers services and programs to provide comfort and support to the families and loved ones of organ and tissue donors. These services may be updated periodically, based on feedback from donor families, to best address their bereavement needs.
Initial
A bereavement card is sent within the first week of loss.
6 Weeks
Families receive a letter of gratitude (tissue donors) or an organ outcome letter (organ donors), along with a Gift for Life booklet, donor medal, grief information, and authorization paperwork.
2 Months
A telecare call offers outreach and additional resources.
3 Months
Families receive an Angel Catcher journal, details about the annual donor commemorative book, and the booklet “Myths about Grief.”
6 Months
A survey about the donation experience, a brochure on the Grief Companion program, and information on donor family services events are sent.
9 Months
Families get information on the Thanks2You program (tissue donors) or Writing to Recipients (organ donors).
12 Months
A one-year remembrance card is mailed.
16 Months
Information about the Quilts of Love program and quilt square instructions are provided.
18 Months
A follow-up telecare call focuses on the quilt program and commemorative book submissions.
20 Months
Families receive information about sharing their story.
24 Months
A two-year remembrance card is mailed.
27 Months
Families receive information on volunteering opportunities.
30 Months
A final personalized letter, DFS survey, and the Mourner’s Bill of Rights are sent.
Donor Family-Recipient Communication
- “Thanks2You” Letters – Encourages communication between tissue recipients and donor families.
- Facilitate letters, cards, phone conversations, email and meetings, if desired.
Additional Services
- Age-appropriate bereavement materials for children, adolescents, and their caregivers
- Support materials for specific causes of death (e.g., overdose, suicide, homicide)
- Annual In Celebration and Remembrance donor tribute event
- Workshops and events celebrating loved ones, offered either in-person or virtually
- Quarterly Donor Family newsletter
- Research on the health status of organ recipients
- Research on donor tissue transplantation outcomes
- Grief Companion Program: Peer support from other donor families
- Private Facebook group for LifeNet Health donor families