Help for Transplant Recipients
Transplant recipients need support and resources after their life-changing surgeries. You might want to meet and spend time with other transplant recipients dealing with similar health, medication and emotional issues – good or bad.
Writing to you donor's family
You may want to reach out to your donor’s family members to thank them for your new chance at life and to learn more about your donor. After initial written contact – which can be done at any point after your transplant - you might want to meet them in person. For many donor families, learning that their loved one’s organs, eyes or tissue changed or saved your life is extremely validating and can help with their grief.
Because of patient confidentiality laws, the first step in the process involves writing a note or letter that Gift of Life will deliver on your behalf. If your donor’s family wishes to have future contact, they will respond to you through Gift of Life.
To meet them, we ask that you’ve first established some contact through correspondence, and then everyone must complete an authorization form. To receive a copy of this form, email Jean Frey.
Gift of Life Michigan, c/o Jean Frey
3861 Research Park Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Several groups, but not all:
> Transplant Living: For information on living donation.
> National Kidney Foundation: For information on kidney transplants and kidney disease prevention.
Gift of Life offers transplant recipients
- A guide to connecting with your donor’s family.
- A list of support groups from every region of the state. These groups help both those who are waiting as well as recipients live full and active lives.
- An opportunity to participate in the Recipient Advisory Council. Transplant support groups across Michigan send a member to represent them on this Gift of Life committee, which meets three times a year in Ann Arbor. For information, questions or if your support group would like to send a member to our meetings, email us here.
- Information and resources regarding the Transplant Games of America.
Writing to you donor's family
You may want to reach out to your donor’s family members to thank them for your new chance at life and to learn more about your donor. After initial written contact – which can be done at any point after your transplant - you might want to meet them in person. For many donor families, learning that their loved one’s organs, eyes or tissue changed or saved your life is extremely validating and can help with their grief.Because of patient confidentiality laws, the first step in the process involves writing a note or letter that Gift of Life will deliver on your behalf. If your donor’s family wishes to have future contact, they will respond to you through Gift of Life.
To meet them, we ask that you’ve first established some contact through correspondence, and then everyone must complete an authorization form. To receive a copy of this form, email Jean Frey.
Guidelines for initiating contact
- If you aren’t sure what to say, send a simple “thinking of you” card, ask them how they’re doing, or say you’re sorry for their loss and wait for a response.
- Tell them how you’re doing since you had your transplant, tell them which organ you received and let them know how much you appreciate their gift.
- Give general information about your family, occupation, interests, etc. Don’t include any identifying information, such as your last name, city, employer or name of the hospital where you received your transplant.
- On a separate piece of paper, list your full name, address, transplant center, date of transplant and organ transplanted. This will enable Gift of Life staff to pass your correspondence on to your donor family.
Gift of Life Michigan, c/o Jean Frey
3861 Research Park Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Transplant Support Groups
Transplantation is unique both medically and emotionally. You might find that you need help sorting through your feelings or simply want to interact with other recipients. There are more than 30 transplant support groups statewide, and they focus on different aspects of transplantation.Several groups, but not all:
- Transplant Support Group of Northern Michigan, Gaylord: Meets second Thursday every other month; 6 p.m., Otsego Memorial Hospital class room. Contact: Bev Cherwinski at 989.983.4188.
- Jackson Transplant Support Group, Jackson: Meets second Saturday every month; 10:30 a.m., Allegiance Health (formerly Foote Hospital), pulmonary rehabilitation center, suite 102. Contact: Cathy McAllister, 517.787.9322, ext. 224.
- Lansing Area Transplant Support Group, Lansing: Meets second Thursday of the month; 7 to 8:30 p.m., Peoples Church, 200 W. Grand River Ave., East Lansing. For more information, contact Joan Smith at 517.351.2175 or joansmith@mindspring.com.
- Friends for Life Support Group, Flint: For everyone involved in the donation and transplantation community. Meets first Tuesday every month; 6 p.m. at Hurley School of Nursing next to Hurley Medical Center. Contact: Connie Ayres, 810.397.7970 or Bill Wolf, 810.423.8970.
- Brighton Transplant Support Group, Brighton: St. Mary Magdalen Church, 2201 S. Old U.S. 23. For meeting times, call Steve Reichard at 810.227.3124.
- Iron Mountain Transplant Support Group, Iron Mountain: Meets third Tuesday every month; 1 p.m. at 427 South Stephenson Ave., second floor. Contact: Evelyn Juneau, 906.774.7501.
- Escanaba Transplant Support Group, Escanaba: Contact Carol Plouff, 906.786.4358 or email.
- Lakeshore Transplant Support Group, Muskegon: Meets second Wednesday every month; 7 p.m. at Mercy Health Partners-Hackley Campus auditorium. Contact: Dick Seyffert, 616.340.4145.
- Second Time Around, Grand Rapids: Meets second Monday every month; 6 p.m. at Spectrum Health East (Blodgett) campus, Guild Room 2. Contact: Jacquie Oliai, 616.774.7671 or email.
- Transplant Connection, Royal Oak: Meets third Wednesday of every month; 7 p.m. at Beaumont Hospital Royal Oak, administration building, ABW 1st Floor Private Dining Room. email for info. Contact Maria Munoz for more info: 248.551.1201.
- Mid-Michigan Transplant Awareness Group, Clare: Meets third Thursday of every month; 7 p.m. at MidMichigan Regional Medical Center, Plane Tree Café, private dining room. Contact: Terri Maynard, 989.430.4174 or email.
Helpful websites for those on the waiting list and transplant recipients
> Transplant Living: For information on living donation.> National Kidney Foundation: For information on kidney transplants and kidney disease prevention.
