Give
If you would like to support the efforts of the Utah Lions Eye Bank through financial contributions please visit our Give page. These donations will help advance our mission and provide cornea transplants to those who could not afford them otherwise. If you would like to volunteer your time or talents please email us.
The decision to write to your donor’s family is a personal one. For some donor families, receiving a letter from you—the recipient—can help the grieving process.
We work with the families of cornea and ocular tissue donors and we would be happy to facilitate communication between you and your donor’s family.
Confidential Communication
By allowing the Utah Lions Eye Bank to contact your donor’s family on your behalf, we can make sure your personal information stays confidential.
Information to Include
If you choose to write to the family of your donor, you may want to include the following information:
- Your first name and the first names of your family members (no last names please),
- Your job or occupation,
- Your hobbies or interests,
- Your family situation (i.e. marital status, or if you have children or grandchildren),
- How the transplant surgery has changed your life,
- and acknowledgement of the donor family’s loss, and gratitude for their gift.
It is important to note that we do not know the donor family’s personal beliefs, and you should consider this before making religious comments. Please also use simple language.
Sending Your Message
Please address your letter, card, or note to “Donor Family.” At the end of your message, please sign your first name only.
To make sure your message stays confidential, please do not include your address, city, phone number, email address, name of the surgery center, or name of your physician.
On a separate sheet of paper, please write your full name and the date when you received your transplant. This information will help us match you to your donor’s family. We will be sure to keep this information private.
Hearing Back From Your Donor's Family
Please be aware that you may or may not receive a response from the family of your donor.
Some families have said that after they receive a letter, they are overwhelmed with emotion and have difficulty expressing their feelings in writing. Other donor families may take months or even years before they feel comfortable communicating with the recipient of their loved one’s donation.
Please remember that if you don’t get a response, this doesn’t mean your donor family was not appreciative of your letter.