With the holidays among us we are surrounded by bustling busyness and holiday cheer, however the holidays can be a tough time for many. Empty chairs remind us of family members lost and their absence is heightened with past holiday memories and traditions. While this can be a difficult time, it can also be a time to honor those loved ones. 

Honoring our loved ones can bring a sense of purpose and donor families often find comfort as they seek out ways to honor and remember their loved ones. This can be achieved in a variety of ways and there truly is no right or wrong way.

Some families find comfort in sharing their loved one’s story on LiveOnAZ.org.  At LiveOnAZ.org, you will find Arizona’s Wall of Life. The Wall of Life is a visible and powerful symbol that bears testimony to selfless giving and offers tangible hope to those who are in need of a life-saving transplant. 

If your loved one had a Facebook you can Memorialize their Facebook.  When a person passes away, Facebook will memorialize the account to protect your loved one’s privacy (when requested by the family). You can read more about how to use Facebook to memorialize your loved one here. 

Some family members find comfort in reaching out to their family member’s recipient. The decision to write to the recipients of your loved one’s gift of healing and life is personal. For some donor families, writing helps with the grieving process. Others have no desire to write at all. Donor Network of Arizona supports the right for donor families and transplant recipients to engage in mutually acceptable forms of communication. Their role is to facilitate the communication you desire. There is no right or wrong way to approach this communication, and there is no timeline for your decision. The choice is up to you.

If you are interested in contacting the recipient this can be done by mailing your letter to the address below. You can find more information on what to expect once you send your letter here. 

Donor Family and Advocate Services

Donor Network of Arizona

2010 W. Rio Salado Parkway

Tempe, Arizona  85281

Remembering your loved one’s legacy can bring peace and help honor those who are no longer with us. DNAZ also provides a list of on-line resources to help process grief. You can find additional support here.