Giving, Grieving, Growing™
& Living Donor Workshops
Monday, June 19th at the Galt House Hotel
For Living Donors Only
Living donors are invited to join together to share their unique experiences. How have you coped with recovery? How has your family reacted to your gift? Are you getting enough support? Come share in this safe environment. Please note: this session is for living donors only.
9:45 AM to 12:30 PM
Life After Donation and Sharing Session for Living Donors
For Donor Families Only
The Giving, Grieving, Growing™ Program will offer morning workshops focusing on bereavement and donation issues. Workshops will be presented for donor families by bereavement and donation professionals. They are safe places to share and help each other grow. Sessions are optional, and run at the same time as some athletic events.
If your loved one donated organs and/or tissue after death and you would like to participate in the workshops on Monday, June 19, 2006, you can review the workshop and sharing session descriptions.
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Welcome and Opening Session: Finding Good Along the Grief Journey
9:45 AM – 11:00 AM
Donor Families may choose ONE of these workshops:
Parental Grief: How do parents endure the incomprehensible death of a child? Parents who are further along the grief journey will offer hope to the newly bereaved that they, too, will survive. This session will be repeated from 11:15AM - 12:30PM.
What To Do With Our Memories: During this workshop, donor families will create a small memory box in honor of their loved one. Please bring small items and materials you’d like to use for your collage such as photos; words; mementos; poems; quotes; symbols of your loved one; and fabric. We will provide examples, helpful hints, and materials such as paper, crayons, paint, permanent markers, glitter, and thread. Space is limited, so sign up early. This session will be repeated from 11:15AM - 12:30PM.
Understanding Brain Death: Donor families often have questions such as ‘what are the differences between brain death and coma?’ We will talk about the physical aspects of what happens when a person is brain dead.
Death of a Spouse or Lifetime Companion: Learn suggestions on coping with grief following the death of a spouse or life partner.
How Children Grieve: We will focus on ways we can help children understand death and work through the grieving process.
Dreams & Signs: In this session, you can share stories about dreams and signs that have occurred after the death of a loved one. Share their effect on your grief journey and your relationship with your loved one.
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
Donor Families may choose ONE of the following workshops:
Parental Grief: How do parents endure the incomprehensible death of a child? Parents who are further along the grief journey will give hope to the newly bereaved that they, too, will survive. This session will also be held from 9:30AM - 11:00AM.
What To Do With Our Memories: During this workshop, donor families will create a small memory box in honor of their loved one. Please bring small items and materials you’d like to use for your collage such as photos; words; mementos; poems; quotes; symbols of your loved one; and fabric. We will provide examples, helpful hints, and materials such as paper, crayons, paint, permanent markers, glitter, and thread. Space is limited, so sign up early. This session will also be held from 9:30AM - 11:00AM.
Understanding Tissue Donation: We will discuss the process of tissue donation, including what can be donated, how tissue is used and how long tissue can be stored.
Movement for Mind, Body and Spirit: Participants will be learn simple stretches to help relieve tension, boost mood and care for the body. These basic exercises are suitable for people from any level of physical fitness and will be presented in a safe, supportive atmosphere. The emotional, spiritual and physical benefits of exercise and relaxation will be discussed.
The First Year of Forever (for the newly-bereaved): This sharing session will explore the unique responses individuals may experience in the first few years after the death of a loved one. We will also discuss ways to handle people who try to tell you that you should move on or grieve in a different way. We each have our own reaction to loss, and you will have a chance to share your experience in a safe, supportive atmosphere.
Sharing Session on Sibling Grief: This supportive session is for donor family members who are grieving the loss of a brother or sister.
