FAQs for Donors & Families

A trained MORA staff member separate from the medical team will approach the family with care, compassion, and sensitivity—only after death is declared or the individual is deemed to have a non-survivable injury.

Families often receive general updates (for example, “a 42-year-old man in Alabama received your loved one’s heart”). Later, if both sides agree to exchange correspondence or potentially meet, MORA can facilitate contact being made.

MORA offers memorial opportunities and events, offering honor walks when possible, with Gift of Life Donor trees during the holidays, and tributes in our Garden of Hope. Many families also become advocates for donation. This is a powerful way to honor a donor hero by telling their story and sharing with others how the gift of donation impacted your family in a time of great loss.

As a family member of a donor, you may or may not decide to write a note to the transplant recipients. The decision to write to transplant recipients is a very personal one. You have experienced a tremendous loss. Transplant recipients understand your grief. It may be just as difficult for them to write you.

You may choose not to write at this time, but you may decide in a few months or years that you want to try opening the lines of communication. There is no time limit for sending correspondence.

General information:

• You may include first names of yourself and your family, give the state in which you reside and provide photographs.
• Keep identities anonymous and confidential… do not include any last names, street addresses, city names, phone numbers, names of hospitals or physicians.

Mailing your card or letter:

• Place your card or letter in an unsealed envelope.
• Include on a separate sheet of paper:
  • Your full name
  • The full name of your loved one
  • The date of the donation

• Place the above items in another envelope and mail to:

Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency
Attn: Aftercare
4400 Lakeland Drive
Flowood, MS 39232

This process may take several weeks so allow extra mailing time.

Click here for more tips about how to write your letter.

Yes, there are many organizations that MORA recommends that support donor families and can help them deal with the grief of their unique situations. Click here for more information.

Once consent is given, the process may take 24–48 hours. The donor is cared for respectfully throughout, and families are kept informed.

Sometimes, transplant recipients choose to write to donor families to express their gratitude. The decision to write to the donor family is your personal choice. Often recipients say it’s impossible to find words to appropriately express appreciation for such a gift, given under such difficult circumstances. In response, many donor families have said a card or a personal note from the recipient offers comfort. Whether or not you decide to communicate with your donor family – it’s your choice.

General information:

• You may include first names of yourself and your family, give the state in which you reside and provide photographs.
• Keep identities anonymous and confidential… do not include any last names, street addresses, city names, phone numbers, names of hospitals or physicians.

Mailing your card or letter:

• Place your card or letter in an unsealed envelope.
• Include on a separate sheet of paper:
  • Your full name
  • The full name of your loved one
  • The date of the donation

• Place the above items in another envelope and mail to:

Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency
Attn: Aftercare
4400 Lakeland Drive
Flowood, MS 39232

This process may take several weeks so allow extra mailing time.

Click here for more tips about how to write your letter.

Most major religions support organ donation as a final act of love and compassion. The recovery process respects religious and cultural needs as much as possible.

No. Donation does not delay services and does not prevent an open-casket funeral. MORA coordinates with the funeral home chosen by the family. The process is handled with great care and respect.

Yes. Donation is done surgically with dignity and great care. Our staff takes great pride to honor the gifts of each donor in their work during the recovery process. Open casket services are possible in nearly all cases.