FAMILY SUPPORT AND OUR AFTERCARE DEPARTMENT
There is no greater gift than the gift of life, and it takes the generosity of donors and their families to make this gift possible. LifeShare honors the generosity of these heroes, as well as the kindness of their families, by coordinating opportunities to reflect on the gifts they shared, saving the lives of individuals they may never know.
Our Aftercare team provides information and support to donor family members after the donation has occurred. We offer each donor family grief materials and resources to assist in supporting them following the loss of their loved one.
Within six weeks following the donation, families receive a letter from LifeShare that confirms the organs/tissues that were recovered, as well as general information on each organ recipient. Names and locations of the recipients are kept confidential at this time. Further down the road, LifeShare supports letter writing between interested donor families and recipients, and even coordinates meetups when both parties are interested.
Each year LifeShare hosts the Donor Family Ceremony to honor donors, donors in spirit who were ultimately unable to donate, and their wonderful families, from the previous year.
The LifeShare Foundation hosts the annual Little Red Heart 5K in the fall and encourages donor families and recipients to participate. The Little Red Heart 5K’s mission is to celebrate life, honor those who were donors, pay tribute to those who received, offer hope to those who continue to wait and remember the lives lost waiting for the gift of life.
Our Aftercare team provides information and support to donor family members after the donation has occurred. We offer each donor family grief materials and resources to assist in supporting them following the loss of their loved one.
Within six weeks following the donation, families receive a letter from LifeShare that confirms the organs/tissues that were recovered, as well as general information on each organ recipient. Names and locations of the recipients are kept confidential at this time. Further down the road, LifeShare supports letter writing between interested donor families and recipients, and even coordinates meetups when both parties are interested.
Each year LifeShare hosts the Donor Family Ceremony to honor donors, donors in spirit who were ultimately unable to donate, and their wonderful families, from the previous year.
The LifeShare Foundation hosts the annual Little Red Heart 5K in the fall and encourages donor families and recipients to participate. The Little Red Heart 5K’s mission is to celebrate life, honor those who were donors, pay tribute to those who received, offer hope to those who continue to wait and remember the lives lost waiting for the gift of life.
HANDPRINTS AND HAND MOLDS
Hand Molds
Hand molds can be completed for donors 18 years and younger for families that have given authorization for donation. Hand molds are mounted in a shadow box and given to the donor’s family.
Handprints
For adult donors, LifeShare can complete a hand print on special paper for the donor’s family. If multiple hand prints are requested by family, the original can be copied on a regular copy machine.
Hand molds can be completed for donors 18 years and younger for families that have given authorization for donation. Hand molds are mounted in a shadow box and given to the donor’s family.
Handprints
For adult donors, LifeShare can complete a hand print on special paper for the donor’s family. If multiple hand prints are requested by family, the original can be copied on a regular copy machine.
FLAG CEREMONIES
A Flag Ceremony is a way to honor an organ donor and the donor family. We raise the LifeShare Flag to recognize the gift of life that is being so graciously given.
A Flag Ceremony can be whatever a family wants it to be and whenever the family wants it to be. Typically Flag Ceremonies take place during the organ donation case, however families sometimes choose to have them on another meaningful date – the donor’s birthday, on Mother’s Day, etc. We can incorporate music or whatever a family wishes to incorporate.
A typical Flag Ceremony includes a welcome from LifeShare staff, a Moment of Honor, the raising of the flag by hospital security, a prayer lead by the chaplain or family’s faith leader, and a concluding statement from LifeShare staff.
The flag will fly for 24-hours and is a reminder to all who see it that an organ donor has given someone the gift of life.
A Flag Ceremony can be whatever a family wants it to be and whenever the family wants it to be. Typically Flag Ceremonies take place during the organ donation case, however families sometimes choose to have them on another meaningful date – the donor’s birthday, on Mother’s Day, etc. We can incorporate music or whatever a family wishes to incorporate.
A typical Flag Ceremony includes a welcome from LifeShare staff, a Moment of Honor, the raising of the flag by hospital security, a prayer lead by the chaplain or family’s faith leader, and a concluding statement from LifeShare staff.
The flag will fly for 24-hours and is a reminder to all who see it that an organ donor has given someone the gift of life.
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HONORING THE DONOR
Donor Quilt
Each quilt square is created by a donor family in honor of their loved one who gave the gift of life. LifeShare volunteers create a new quilt every year.
Each quilt square is created by a donor family in honor of their loved one who gave the gift of life. LifeShare volunteers create a new quilt every year.
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