Its almost a year since transplant, i need some ideas.

[misdee]

Ont the 14th August 2007 someone died and gave my husband the gift of life. his transplant went ahead soon after midnight on the 15th August.

i have to mark the 14th in some way to remembger someone i will never know. i'm stuck. i would love to release a few balloons but thats bad for the enviroment. what else could we do?

the 15th will be peters celebration of the last year. where can i get a heart shaped cake tin? or directions on how to make one.

Why not something long lasting like sponsor a tree planting, to me it is longlasting and signifies the continuation of life the person who died provided for both Peter and whatever you sponsor. I was just thinking about you guys recently as the Scottish Office are running their TV ads for organ donation and i remember telling you about them last year.

Amazing that a whole year has passed.

And a lovely idea to remember the other person. Have no ideas though. Tree or bush sounds good.

I think planting a tree is a good one. My friend had a kidney transplant about 10 years and has a 'birthday' party each year to celebrate her new lease of life. It is a fantastic reason to celebrate

A local shop near us rents out shaped cake tins - not sure if they would do it by post......

atm we are a bit strapped, but will add tree-planting to next years rememberance/celebration.

unless he garden centre has a tree for under £20 i can plant in the garden.

starlight, dh still hasnt done his letter of thanks to his donor family. words dont seem enough somehow.will ask him tonight if he feels like writing one, anhd he can pass it on through his transplant co-ordinater. its quite am emotional thing to do.

cake tin hire place

I have sort of heart-shaped muffin tin (well, one of those silicone ones) - six small heart-shaped cakes.

Tesco, 5 pounds. Or I can lend it to you if you like? I have also seen large heart shaped silicon 'tins' in a cookshop.

Misdee, have you ever seen Good Gifts They do really nice things in response to contributions. They will plant trees etc in someone's name. They also, I think, pay for operations - including heart ones, in the third worls, which might be appropriate. But there are lots of things at all levels of contribution - from about £3 to £5,000.

I have one of these, i would send to you but it does require a thick cake mix, so not a batter type as this leaks.

I just cannot believe it has been a year

just cat me with your address and i can post it if it is any use

What about this sponsor a tree from £5 or something similar

Misdee I have a heart shaped tin I could lend you (I could post it). I would love to make youa cake but am off on holiday at 3.30am on the 16th so not a good time really.

Some specialised kitchen shops sell disposable silicone cake moulds in shapes you're not likely to use often, eg children's age moulds. Possibly hearts too ?

Not very expensive at all. re the donor letter; could you get your local press to do a little article on your family around the date, and include the coverage ? I know it's a sensitive issue but in time the family might take comfort from seeing such a good result arise out of their generosity in tragic circumsatances.

thanks for theideas.

dh got a lot of press coverage, local and national at the time of the transplant. we really want this first year to pass quietly. the kids have had a lot of adjustments to do, and am not in a media frame of mind at the moment.