In March of this year,I had the privelege of meeting my donor's father, aunt, and sister; to visit in their home, and to spend several hours getting to know each other, looking through family photo albums, and hearing stories about Steven. For me, as I hope for them, it was instant family in a way that we all have within us, to relate to each other as family; but with the clear knowledge of the truth that this flesh is something we all, truly, share as one. I also hope that having the chance to meet me, to get to know me, to see how my life has evolved since that terrible date three years ago, has helped somehow in their process of grieving and moving on. For me it has created a completion and connection that is priceless.
In this case it so happened that I was the only recipient to have contacted the donor family in any way... there are many reasons I can understand for this to be so. I know the gratitude of all the recipients is profound and impossible to ever fully express - save by life and love.
I warmly urge that all transplant recipients find the way, the time, the heart, to send that short anonymous thank you to those families who, in their grief, yet served to bear this ultimate final gift from their donor loved one.
Santa Cruz, June 27, 2001