In life, moments of sorrow and joy often intertwine, shaping us in profound ways. The journey of being a donor family uniquely combines grief and gratitude. There is the deep sorrow from a sudden loss and also a silver lining of gratitude knowing that loved ones have saved and improved the lives of others through organ and tissue donation.
I personally experienced this mix of emotions when we lost our daughter, Taylor, in a skiing accident in 2010. During those challenging times, having a compassionate support system was invaluable. However, we struggled to find grief support that truly understood what it was like to be a donor family. That experience led us to create the Taylor’s Gift Grief Support Program to support donor families nationwide, one which Infinite Legacy has implemented into its aftercare program. As I reflect on our partnership with Infinite Legacy, a wonderful organ procurement organization (OPO), I am filled with appreciation. Their dedication to supporting donor families has made a significant positive impact. Together, we are helping donor families navigate their grief journey, so they never have to grieve alone.
A Shared Vision of Compassion and Support
Infinite Legacy has always stood by donor families during their most vulnerable moments. Their commitment to honoring the legacy of donors by supporting their families aligns seamlessly with the mission of Taylor's Gift Foundation. The partnership between Infinite Legacy and Taylor's Gift ensures that donor families receive compassionate and meaningful grief support as they navigate the complex emotions of their unique situation.
Our partnership with Infinite Legacy has allowed Taylor's Gift to expand our reach and impact. Infinite Legacy’s committed aftercare team has been instrumental in referring our grief support program to donor families, ensuring that more families receive the care and support they need during their most challenging times. Often, financial and insurance barriers can impede access to grief support. However, Taylor’s Gift offers our grief support free of charge to donor families for an entire year. Together our partnership reflects our unwavering dedication to the well-being of those who have given the ultimate gift of life.
The Taylor's Gift Grief Support Program: A Beacon of Hope
The Taylor's Gift Grief Support program is designed to offer personalized care and support to donor families as they navigate the difficult path of grief. One of the most impactful aspects of our program is the emphasis on personal connections. Donor families are matched with professional peer supporters, known as caring guides, who provide empathetic listening, guidance and support tailored to their individual experiences. We also offer loss-specific support groups. Both services help donor families process their grief, cope with their loss and find ways to celebrate the life and legacy of their loved ones.
Infinite Legacy and Taylor’s Gift are also committed to advancing research in collaboration with NYU Langone Health. Our goal is to demonstrate the efficacy of our Grief Support Program and establish best practices for donor family care.
Serving 300+ Infinite Legacy Donor Families: A Milestone of Compassion
Since the beginning of the Taylor's Gift Grief Support program, we’ve made a significant impact, serving more than 300 Infinite Legacy donor families. This milestone is a testament to the program's effectiveness and the dedication of the aftercare team. Each donor family represents a unique story of loss and resilience, and our commitment to supporting them remains unwavering.
Stories of Healing and Resilience
The true testament to the power of Taylor's Gift Grief Support program lies in the testimonials of the Infinite Legacy donor families who have been part of our program. These quotes highlight the profound impact that compassionate support can have on a family’s journey through grief:
“After my son died, I felt so alone. My grief caused additional strain on my marriage, and my friends couldn’t truly understand what I was going through. My Caring Guide (with Taylor’s Gift) listened to me, understood and helped me with the tools I needed to re-engage with my life.”
“My faith is important to me, and my Caring Guide was instrumental in giving me spiritual and practical advice that helped me through it all. I give God the Glory, but my Caring Guide was such a big help to me.”
“I’m usually the one everyone counts on for support, and I think people expected me to ‘get over it’ when it came to my loss. My Caring Guide taught me that grief just doesn’t work that way. She helped me with insights into my thinking and guided me toward helpful paths to better thinking.”
A Heartfelt Thank You
We are immensely grateful for our partnership with Infinite Legacy. Their dedication to donor families and their unwavering support have been instrumental in making our Grief Support Program a beacon of hope for many. We look forward to continuing this meaningful work and making a lasting difference in the lives of many more Infinite Legacy donor families.
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