April 2011
Dear Donor Family,
I am writing this on behalf of my husband and our family. I don't mind telling you that I have written, rewritten, and written it again in an attempt to get the words and emotions exactly right. After all how do you thank someone for saving your husband's life?
In July 2009, my husband Mike was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma. Simply stated Mike had a cancerous growth in his bile duct. Unfortunately, the location prevented the best surgeons in the world from being able to operate. We were told this diagnosis would be considered fatal in most situations. However, as Mike became sicker and sicker, we were told of this "clinical study" that might save his life. First, he had to be pronounced healthy in all other ways except for the cancer. Next, he had to undergo months of chemotherapy, radiation, and exploratory surgeries. After all that, he was still considered healthy and the cancer did not spread, he would be listed for a liver transplant. The purpose of the "clinical study" was to prove that this line of treatment could cure his type of cancer.
Of course, we were willing to do anything to have a chance at keeping him alive. He was only 55 years old. He has two daughters. At that time, their ages were 20 and 17. We wanted him to see the youngest graduate from high school, to walk them down the aisle when they were married, and to be around to see who and what they would ultimately become. Therefore, the journey began.
As Mike went through rigorous medical tests, procedures, and treatments we tried to focus on the goal: a cure and his return to a healthy life. However, as the realization that this opportunity began to take hold in our lives, we understood that for Mike to survive, someone else would have to die. Some other family would lose someone they loved.
We could not bring ourselves to pray for someone else to have to endure such pain and heartache. So, instead, we prayed for God's will to be done. We prayed for the family and the donor in advance. We prayed that God would comfort them and give them peace. We prayed that God would give them strength to handle their loss and that their family would become closer to each other and God. We prayed that the donor and his/her family would be proud to know that they would be saving lives for all eternity. Not only was Mike's life spared but he will serve as a learning tool for doctors and scientists. What the doctors learn from Mike's situation will help them save countless lives in the future. So, in this case, organ donation truly is "the gift of life."
As you know on Wednesday April 7, 2010 you lost someone dear to you. When we got the call that a liver had become available we prayed all the way to the hospital. We live about three hours away! We were happy that Mike was finally going to get the chance to be healthy again. We were scared because this was no small operation. We were grateful because someone we had never met had the courage to make the decision to donate a loved one's organs. On that day, your family merged with ours.
As Mike recovered, we were aware that every milestone for him was a different kind of milestone for your family. Therefore, we continue to pray. While Mike slept in the hospital bed the weekend after surgery, I sat in his room and prayed for you. I knew you were likely saying goodbye. When Mike successfully survived a month, three months, six months, we prayed because we knew you were counting those dates as well. When we were lucky enough to have Mike with us for the holidays we prayed that God would give you strength. We understood that, like us, your holidays would never be the same.
We will continue to keep your family in our prayers the rest of our lives. We feel a strong emotional connection to you. We want you to know that Mike is doing well and he is doing everything the doctors tell him to do. Therefore, we expected him to live a long healthy life, thanks to your family.
Words cannot express how grateful we are for the gift you have given us. We wanted the opportunity to say "thank you" and to let you know that we will continue to pray for your family. You are definitely heroes to us. You and your loved one will not be forgotten.
May God Bless You,
*Family Name
Dear Donor Family,
I am writing this on behalf of my husband and our family. I don't mind telling you that I have written, rewritten, and written it again in an attempt to get the words and emotions exactly right. After all how do you thank someone for saving your husband's life?
In July 2009, my husband Mike was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma. Simply stated Mike had a cancerous growth in his bile duct. Unfortunately, the location prevented the best surgeons in the world from being able to operate. We were told this diagnosis would be considered fatal in most situations. However, as Mike became sicker and sicker, we were told of this "clinical study" that might save his life. First, he had to be pronounced healthy in all other ways except for the cancer. Next, he had to undergo months of chemotherapy, radiation, and exploratory surgeries. After all that, he was still considered healthy and the cancer did not spread, he would be listed for a liver transplant. The purpose of the "clinical study" was to prove that this line of treatment could cure his type of cancer.
Of course, we were willing to do anything to have a chance at keeping him alive. He was only 55 years old. He has two daughters. At that time, their ages were 20 and 17. We wanted him to see the youngest graduate from high school, to walk them down the aisle when they were married, and to be around to see who and what they would ultimately become. Therefore, the journey began.
As Mike went through rigorous medical tests, procedures, and treatments we tried to focus on the goal: a cure and his return to a healthy life. However, as the realization that this opportunity began to take hold in our lives, we understood that for Mike to survive, someone else would have to die. Some other family would lose someone they loved.
We could not bring ourselves to pray for someone else to have to endure such pain and heartache. So, instead, we prayed for God's will to be done. We prayed for the family and the donor in advance. We prayed that God would comfort them and give them peace. We prayed that God would give them strength to handle their loss and that their family would become closer to each other and God. We prayed that the donor and his/her family would be proud to know that they would be saving lives for all eternity. Not only was Mike's life spared but he will serve as a learning tool for doctors and scientists. What the doctors learn from Mike's situation will help them save countless lives in the future. So, in this case, organ donation truly is "the gift of life."
As you know on Wednesday April 7, 2010 you lost someone dear to you. When we got the call that a liver had become available we prayed all the way to the hospital. We live about three hours away! We were happy that Mike was finally going to get the chance to be healthy again. We were scared because this was no small operation. We were grateful because someone we had never met had the courage to make the decision to donate a loved one's organs. On that day, your family merged with ours.
As Mike recovered, we were aware that every milestone for him was a different kind of milestone for your family. Therefore, we continue to pray. While Mike slept in the hospital bed the weekend after surgery, I sat in his room and prayed for you. I knew you were likely saying goodbye. When Mike successfully survived a month, three months, six months, we prayed because we knew you were counting those dates as well. When we were lucky enough to have Mike with us for the holidays we prayed that God would give you strength. We understood that, like us, your holidays would never be the same.
We will continue to keep your family in our prayers the rest of our lives. We feel a strong emotional connection to you. We want you to know that Mike is doing well and he is doing everything the doctors tell him to do. Therefore, we expected him to live a long healthy life, thanks to your family.
Words cannot express how grateful we are for the gift you have given us. We wanted the opportunity to say "thank you" and to let you know that we will continue to pray for your family. You are definitely heroes to us. You and your loved one will not be forgotten.
May God Bless You,
*Family Name
That is amazing
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