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Donor Family Services

Photo of Bobby, donor
Bobby
02/12/1958 - 12/04/1985

Bobby was a very loving person. He enjoyed family life and was the father of three daughters and one son. Bobby stood 6 feet 5 inches. He loved to play basketball and was very good at the game. He enjoyed music, fishing, hanging out with his family and friends. We miss you, Bobby.

Love always, your sister Balinda

About the Program

The Family Resource Program is designed to provide bereavement follow-up support for donor families through phone calls, letters and events. The program coordinator also facilitates correspondence with transplant recipients and works closely with donor families to ensure that they are provided with support and resources after the deaths of their loved ones.

Donor families are invited to join PNTB's local Donor Family Advisory Committee, where they can provide insight into some of the ongoing needs of donor families, help find avenues to best care for and approach future donor families, and plan future events — for example, representing donor families in our area at the Transplant Games. Families are also invited to join the local chapter of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Donor Family Council.

Many donor families choose to become volunteers for the Donate Life Northwest (formerly Oregon Donor Program) (DLNW), which may include joining DLNW ’s Volunteer Speakers Bureau. Donor families play a vital role in teaching healthcare professionals how to support families in grief and how to talk with families about donation. At present, 20 donor family members routinely speak at educational events around the state. Donor families are invited to make quilt squares to honor their loved one. The NKF’s national Patches of Love quilt honors both donors and recipients and travels all over the United States. Donate Life Northwest's Threads of Life quilt also honors donors and recipients and travels around the Pacific Northwest.

Newsletter: Partners in Healing

Partners in Healing is in .pdf format, which requires Adobe® Reader®. Download Adobe® Reader® for free:
Standard English version: www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
Foreign-language and accessible versions: www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/alternate.html

Family Services Coordinator

Rebecca Simon coordinates PNTB's Family Resource Program. In addition to providing the services described above, Rebecca is overseeing PNTB's new donor family newsletter and is planning future donor family recognition ceremonies, the development of a bereavement resource library and the facilitation of a quarterly Donor Family Advisory Committee. At advisory committee meetings, donor families have the opportunity to provide insight regarding their individual ongoing needs, meet each other and offer collective support. The advisory committee also provides input into how the program is conducted.

Rebecca received a bachelors degree in English literature from Lewis & Clark College and a masters degree in social work from Portland State University. She brings previous experience working with grieving children and their families to the program; she most recently worked as a medical social worker and as the coordinator for bereavement services at Hospice of Washington County in Hillsboro, Ore. In addition, she volunteers for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as a speaker and "first connector" volunteer providing support for young adults recently diagnosed with cancer.

Links and Resources

Note: Some of the documents below are in .pdf format, which requires Adobe® Reader®. Download Adobe® Reader® for free:
Standard English version: www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
Foreign-language and accessible versions: www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/alternate.html