Cornea transplant recipients have an inspiring and wonderful story to share. Their sight has been restored due to the selfless generosity of someone who chose to donate.
At Dakota Lions Sight & Health, we want to help transplant recipients honor the gift of sight they received.
Writing to Donor Families
If a transplant recipient wishes to contact the donor family, we act as the intermediary to ensure confidentiality and to respect privacy. In this capacity, we strive to serve both the donor family and the recipient.
Every cornea is a precious gift and some recipients write to say thanks for making the transplant possible. Others choose to write about how the transplant affected their lives.
Deciding whether or not to correspond is a personal choice. One might feel more comfortable sending a simple thank you card. Some might not want to write now, but may choose to do so in the future. Whatever your decision, there is no obligation to write and there is no time constraint for expressing your thoughts.
For those deciding to correspond, we offer these guidelines:
- Communicate in a sensitive and compassionate manner
- Use only first names
- We suggest you include your transplant experience and how the transplant has affected your life
- You may wish to include your job, hobbies, and interests
- It is best to place your card/note in an unsealed envelope as we review letters to ensure confidentiality and privacy
- On a separate cover sheet, include your full name, address, and transplant date – this is used only by Dakota Lions Sight & Health and is not shared
Place all items in an envelope and send to:
Dakota Lions Sight & Health
ATTN: Transplant Recipient Letter
4501 W 61st St N
Sioux Falls, SD 57107
Please keep in mind that correspondence may take some time. Some donor families do not respond immediately and some may not respond at all.