Communicating with the Patient
Once you have donated, the Follow-up Team will share with you the guidelines for the country your stem cells are going to.
Most countries allow anonymous contact between donors and patients.
Anonymous correspondence
To make sure the anonymity regulations are followed, DKMS will act as a go-between for your correspondence. If you would like to send a message to the patient, we will be able to pass this on to the patient via the responsible transplant clinic. If you are sending us a letter by post to pass on, make sure to include your donor ID separately (e.g., on a cover sheet or envelope), so that we can properly allocate your correspondence.
Please do not include your donor ID in the body of your correspondence.
Some hints and tips on writing a letter
Here are a few suggestions for what you might include in your letter:
- Wishing the patient well on their recovery journey
- Sharing your feelings about your stem cell donation
- Expressing your hopes for the patient’s future.
Some great times to send a letter include after DKMS provides an update on the patient’s health, the festive season, or around the anniversary of your donation.
Waiting for a reply
Donors may sometimes wait a long time for a response from the patient, or they may not receive one at all.
The patient may need more time to respond as they might still be ill or may not wish to be contacted at this time. Just as reaching out to the patient is a personal decision for you, it is also a personal choice for the patient who received your stem cells.
From our experience, many patients often respond to the donor’s letter after some time, especially when their health has stabilised and they can share positive updates about their progress.
Mark donated his stem cells to Ivor and the pair formed a unique bond. Here is an example of one of the anonymous letters that Mark sent to Ivor:
Dear recipient,
It's been about 7 years now since I donated my stem cells and you had your transplant...
I often think about you and how you are doing. I hope well and still live a good life with your family and friends.
Anyway, I hope that this might open up the communication between us again, if you wish to of course. But for now, I hope it finds you well.
From your donor
During the first two years after a blood stem cell donation takes place, the donor and patient are generally only able to corresponded anonymously. This could be due to:
- The patient is in a situation that takes a lot of physical and emotional strength. It is important for them to concentrate calmly on recovery.
- Sometimes, a patient will need a second stem cell donation. By remaining anonymous, it ensures that both the donor and patient are in a fair position, with no additional pressure applied to either party.
