When Allison Vogel’s son Tanner received his driver’s permit, he made a simple decision that would go on to change countless lives. He registered as an organ, eye and tissue donor. Tanner’s choice became his lasting legacy, bringing hope and healing to more than 120 people. Tanner was a lifelong baseball fan with an unshakable love for the Colorado Rockies, a passion that began with a plastic bat at age two and grew through years of Little League, college ball, and coaching. His joy for life, kindness, and generosity continue to shine through those he helped.

For Allison, sharing Tanner’s story and meeting one of his kidney recipients has brought comfort and connection through her grief. “It’s helped with the grief,” Allison shared. “To see the lives Tanner touched, to know he’s a hero to so many, it means everything.”

In May of 2025, Allison took the pitcher’s mound at Coors Field to honor her son, a tribute to Tanner’s love of baseball and the legacy of hope he left behind. “I know he would be proud of me,” Allison reflected.

Donor family members are the heart and soul of our mission at Donor Alliance. During one of the most tragic times in their lives, donor families play a vital role in saving and healing lives through organ, eye and tissue donation.

At Donor Alliance, the donation process does not end after the recovery of organs and tissues. We hope it is just the beginning of a lifelong relationship with the donor’s family. From the resources available immediately after donation to ongoing connections, our Aftercare team is here to walk alongside families every step of the way.

“The most meaningful part of my job is meeting and working with families who, on their worst day, chose to help another person,” said Joyleen Helcoski, Aftercare Coordinator at Donor Alliance. “To support these courageous families along their journey of grief, and help connect them with the hope and healing that donation can bring, is a privilege. It is an honor to walk with these incredible families along their journey of loss, hope, and healing, and to learn about their loved ones, our heroes, who give the gift of life.”

We hope this serves as a guide to donor families as they explore all that Aftercare can offer, including the resources available and what families and loved ones can expect along the way.

What Aftercare Looks Like at Donor Alliance

Grief after donation is not a straight line. Some families feel a sense of peace quickly. Others carry complicated emotions for months or years. Both are completely normal and there is no timeline or right way to move through this. Everything in our Aftercare program is available to families at any time and at no cost, whenever they are ready.

Resources for Donor Families

From events to online resources, the Aftercare team provides ongoing support for donor families once the donation process is complete. These resources are available for all families at any time through our donor family resources page.

Grief Resources: Donor Alliance can help connect donor families with grief support resources in their community, including peer support groups, accessing financial support for grief counseling, and literature about loss and grief. Grief resources can be requested anytime through our donor family resources page.

Donation and Recipient Updates: Donation outcome and recipient updates can be shared with families when requested. This can be requested at any time by visiting www.donoralliance.org/request. 

Private Donor Family Facebook Group: Our private Facebook group gives donor family members a place to connect with and support one another along their grief journey. Donor families are encouraged to join, whether to participate in discussion or to follow along. Donor family members can request to join the group anytime.

Donor Family Quilt Project: The Rocky Mountain Threads of Life quilts are a meaningful way for donor families to honor their loved one who gave the gift of life. Donor families can create a quilt square in honor of their loved one, which will be sewn into a larger quilt and displayed at various events and gatherings across Colorado and Wyoming. Download a quilt square template to get started.

Donor Family Tribute: Every year in Colorado and every other year in Wyoming, Donor Alliance hosts the Donor Family Tribute. This event recognizes and honors donors and their families. This memorable event enables reflection on those lost and offers hope for the new life that comes as a result of organ and tissue donation.

Connecting Donor Families and Recipients

Many donor family members and recipients have expressed how meaningful it is to connect with one another. Donor Alliance encourages correspondence between donor families and recipients, and is proud to help foster these connections whenever possible. Every year, our Aftercare team facilitates hundreds of letters between donor families and recipients. Although not every family or recipient will choose to connect, many have shared that it is still meaningful to write about their loved one or transplant journey. Donor families can find information about this process, frequently asked questions, and suggestions for what to write here www.donoralliance.org/write. 

Connecting Donor Families and Organ Recipients:

Either the donor family or recipient can initiate contact by sending a letter at any time. There are no waiting periods or time limitations, families and recipients are encouraged to reach out when they feel ready.

Donor families should send their letter to Donor Alliance (either by mail or online), where it is reviewed and forwarded to the hospital where the recipient received their transplant. The transplant hospital will then forward the letter to the recipient.

Recipients should send their letter to their transplant team, where it is reviewed and forwarded to the Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) who coordinated/facilitated the donation. The OPO will then forward the letter to the donor family.

Connecting Donor Families and Tissue Recipients:

Donor Alliance is not provided with specific tissue recipient information, which means we do not have a way of sending a letter to a tissue recipient unless they reach out first. If your loved one donated tissues (bone, soft tissue, heart valves, veins, skin grafts), the tissue recipient(s) must write to you first. If the tissue recipient provides a return address, the donor family may reply.

What If Donor Families Don’t Hear From Their Loved One’s Recipients?

Donor families may or may not receive a reply to their letter, and should be prepared for either outcome. Some recipients may not write due to challenging recovery periods, others are overwhelmed with complex emotions and find it difficult to express their feelings and gratitude. Some recipients may want their privacy, and some may simply need more time. Silence from a recipient does not mean they are ungrateful for the gift they were given, nor does it lessen the lifesaving impact their donor has had on them.

Stories of Connection: When Donor Families and Recipients Meet

Although rare, some of the most powerful moments in the donation community happen when donor families and recipients connect with one another. These connections don’t erase grief, but for many families, they bring a special element of healing. Here are a few of those stories from our own community.

The Hankins Family meets their daughter’s heart recipient:  The family of Katie Hankins, who passed away in May of 2025, came together with Ezequiel Espino and his family. Ezequiel received Katie’s heart and, because of her generosity, is alive today. These moments remind us why this work matters and the lasting impact organ, eye and tissue donation can have on so many lives. Read their full story and watch the video of the two families meeting here. 

Larry and Bill: Larry, a donor father from Cheyenne, Wyoming, lost his son and made the decision to say yes to donation. His son’s heart went to Bill. When Larry and Bill finally met, Larry brought a photo of his son so Bill could see the face of the person whose heart now beats inside him. It’s the kind of moment that reminds everyone involved why this work matters.

These are just a few of the connections that have been made. Many more happen privately, quietly, between families and recipients who wanted to find each other. If you’re considering reaching out, know that our Aftercare team is here to support you through every step of that process.

How to Get Involved and Honor Your Loved One

Grief looks different for everyone, and so does the path forward. For many donor families, getting involved with the donation community becomes a meaningful part of how they carry their loved one’s legacy.

Advocate for Life Program: If you’re looking for a way to give back, we’d love to have you join the hundreds of volunteers from Colorado and Wyoming in our Advocate for Life program. Advocates for Life are essential partners in raising awareness about organ and tissue donation. The key role of our Advocates is to educate and inspire the public to better understand and support donation. It’s one of the most tangible ways a donor family can turn loss into lasting impact.

Not ready to dive into the full program just yet? Come out and help at the Donor Dash. Volunteering at the Donor Dash is a fun way to give some of your time while you decide if you’d like to join the program. We also participate in parades throughout Colorado and Wyoming each year. Follow along on social media for the latest volunteer opportunities.

Donor Alliance Community Events:

The Colorado Donor Dash is our annual 5k run/walk held in Denver to honor, celebrate, and recognize the gift of life. Donor families can honor their loved ones by submitting a message for the Dashboard, writing on the Wall of Honor, and participating in other event activities. Families can also honor their loved one in the Donor Dash Memorial Garden by submitting an order for an honorary sign featuring a photo and words of tribute. Families can participate in the event individually or in a team alongside recipients, living donors, transplant candidates, and supporters as the community comes together to celebrate the lifesaving impact of organ and tissue donation. 

Held each April in Casper, the Wyoming Donor Dash brings together donor families, recipients, living donors, and community members to honor the gift of life. The event provides an opportunity to remember loved ones, celebrate the impact of donation and transplantation, and raise awareness about the importance of registering as an organ and tissue donor. There is also an opportunity for families to display a photo of their loved one on the Wall of Honor. 

Common Questions from Donor Families

Our Aftercare team hears many of the same questions from donor families. Here are answers to the ones that come up most often.

Q: Can we learn more about the outcome of our loved one’s donation? our loved one’s recipients and the impact of their gifts?

A: Yes. Although Donor Alliance is not updated with recipient outcomes, donor families can request an update at any time.

If your loved one donated organs, donor families will receive a letter with initial outcome and general recipient information. While Donor Alliance does not automatically receive any further updates about organ recipients, families can request a general health update on their loved one’s organ recipients at any time. To request an update, please visit: www.donoralliance.org/request

If your loved one donated tissues (bone, soft tissue, skin, heart valves), please be aware that it can take between 6 months and 5 years for donated tissues to be transplanted and specific information to become available. Although we are not provided with specific recipient details, Donor Alliance can research the outcome and share with donor families how many grafts have been transplanted. To request an update, please visit: www.donoralliance.org/request

Q: How soon can we reach out to organ recipients?

A: There is no required waiting period or time limitations before a donor family can write to a recipient. There is no wrong timeline and when you feel ready, our Aftercare team will help you take that first step. For more information about sending a letter, please visit www.donoralliance.org/write

Q: What if we want to meet a recipient in person?

A: Written correspondence is always the first step. Donor Alliance does not have any restrictions on what you can share in your letter, and you are welcome to include your contact information and express your interest in meeting. The recipient may or may not choose to contact you directly, and written correspondence can continue through Donor Alliance for as long as that is desired by either party.

Q: How can I talk to my children about what happened?

A: Talking to children about death and donation is one of the hardest things a family can navigate. Our team can connect you with age-appropriate resources and grief support that addresses the needs of younger family members specifically. For more information, please visit www.donoralliance.org/grief

Q: How can I get involved with Donor Alliance?

A: Beyond the Advocate for Life program described above, there are many ways to stay connected. Following us on social media, attending events, sharing your story when you feel ready, and encouraging others in your life to register as donors are all meaningful ways to keep your loved one’s legacy alive.

Q: Does Donor Alliance provide grief counseling?

A: While Donor Alliance does not facilitate grief counseling directly, we can provide you with information and tools to help find grief support for you or someone in your family. You can request these grief resources at any time through our website.

You Are Not Alone

Our Aftercare team is here as long as you need us, whether that’s in the weeks after donation or years down the road. For more information and aftercare resources, please visit our donor family resources page. 

A record 463 people received lifesaving organ transplants in 2013 thanks to 148 selfless donors in Colorado and Wyoming, according to Donor Alliance, the federally-designated, non-profit organ procurement organization and American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) accredited tissue bank serving the two-state region. Additionally, a record 1,177 tissue donors provided lifesaving and healing tissue, providing bone and skin grafts that will impact thousands of more lives. These milestones are a result of the high percentage of Colorado and Wyoming residents who have chosen to give the gift of life by registering as organ, eye and tissue donors.

Through the generous gifts of donors and their families, Donor Alliance facilitated 148 organ recoveries in 2013, resulting in 463 people in Colorado and throughout the country being removed from the transplant waiting list. The year yielded more transplants than ever before by 3.8%, exceeding the previous high set in 2011, and a 26% increase since 2009.

Similarly, the organization worked with more tissue donors than ever, representing a 32% increase since 2009. These generous individuals and their families gave the gift of lifesaving and healing tissues such as skin, bone and heart valves, which will help as many as 100,000 people to regain mobility and have active lives after disease or trauma.

“We are incredibly proud and grateful to have facilitated a record number of organ and tissue transplants in 2013, helping to save and enhance the lives of more patients than ever before,” said Sue Dunn, president and CEO of Donor Alliance. “We never forget that our work is made possible by the selfless donors and their courageous families who make the powerful decision to give the gift of life.”

The Donate Life Colorado Organ and Tissue Donor Registry experienced the highest donor designation rate since the registry’s establishment in 2001. (This is the rate at which individuals join the state donor registry as a percentage of licensed drivers and ID card holders.) At the close of 2013, 67.3 percent of Colorado’s licensed drivers and ID card holders had joined the registry. Similarly, Wyoming’s registry improved to a 59.4 percent donor designation rate from 55 percent at the end of 2009.  Both states continue to hold two of the highest donor designation rates in the nation.

Donor Alliance’s authorization rates also remained among the highest in the country this year at 92% percent. The authorization rates track the number of families saying ‘yes’ to donation of their loved one’s organ and tissues when approached by Donor Alliance staff.

Source: Donor Alliance data

Despite the generosity of donor family members and the efforts of Donor Alliance staff and partner organizations, just over 2,400 people in the area continue to wait for a lifesaving transplant.

Join the 67 percent of Coloradans and 59 percent of Wyoming citizens who have registered to be organ and tissue donors. For more information about organ and tissue donation, please visit DonorAlliance.org. To register to be an organ and tissue donor, please visit DonateLifeColorado.org, DonateLifeWyoming.org or call 303-329-4747 or 1-888-256-4386 for more information.

Join Donor Alliance at Canvas Stadium on November 7 as the Colorado State Rams take on the Boise State Broncos!

Stop by our table before the game to learn more about organ, eye and tissue donation, ask questions, and pick up Donor Alliance and CSU giveaways while supplies last. Our staff and volunteers will be on site throughout the event, sharing information and connecting with students, alumni, and community members. We hope to see you there!

When Allison Vogel’s son Tanner received his driver’s permit, he made a simple decision that would go on to change countless lives. He registered as an organ, eye and tissue donor. Tanner’s choice became his lasting legacy, bringing hope and healing to more than 120 people. Tanner was a lifelong baseball fan with an unshakable love for the Colorado Rockies, a passion that began with a plastic bat at age two and grew through years of Little League, college ball, and coaching. His joy for life, kindness, and generosity continue to shine through those he helped.

For Allison, sharing Tanner’s story and meeting one of his kidney recipients has brought comfort and connection through her grief. “It’s helped with the grief,” Allison shared. “To see the lives Tanner touched, to know he’s a hero to so many, it means everything.”

In May of 2025, Allison took the pitcher’s mound at Coors Field to honor her son, a tribute to Tanner’s love of baseball and the legacy of hope he left behind. “I know he would be proud of me,” Allison reflected.

Donor family members are the heart and soul of our mission at Donor Alliance. During one of the most tragic times in their lives, donor families play a vital role in saving and healing lives through organ, eye and tissue donation.

At Donor Alliance, the donation process does not end after the recovery of organs and tissues. We hope it is just the beginning of a lifelong relationship with the donor’s family. From the resources available immediately after donation to ongoing connections, our Aftercare team is here to walk alongside families every step of the way.

“The most meaningful part of my job is meeting and working with families who, on their worst day, chose to help another person,” said Joyleen Helcoski, Aftercare Coordinator at Donor Alliance. “To support these courageous families along their journey of grief, and help connect them with the hope and healing that donation can bring, is a privilege. It is an honor to walk with these incredible families along their journey of loss, hope, and healing, and to learn about their loved ones, our heroes, who give the gift of life.”

We hope this serves as a guide to donor families as they explore all that Aftercare can offer, including the resources available and what families and loved ones can expect along the way.

What Aftercare Looks Like at Donor Alliance

Grief after donation is not a straight line. Some families feel a sense of peace quickly. Others carry complicated emotions for months or years. Both are completely normal and there is no timeline or right way to move through this. Everything in our Aftercare program is available to families at any time and at no cost, whenever they are ready.

Resources for Donor Families

From events to online resources, the Aftercare team provides ongoing support for donor families once the donation process is complete. These resources are available for all families at any time through our donor family resources page.

Grief Resources: Donor Alliance can help connect donor families with grief support resources in their community, including peer support groups, accessing financial support for grief counseling, and literature about loss and grief. Grief resources can be requested anytime through our donor family resources page.

Donation and Recipient Updates: Donation outcome and recipient updates can be shared with families when requested. This can be requested at any time by visiting www.donoralliance.org/request. 

Private Donor Family Facebook Group: Our private Facebook group gives donor family members a place to connect with and support one another along their grief journey. Donor families are encouraged to join, whether to participate in discussion or to follow along. Donor family members can request to join the group anytime.

Donor Family Quilt Project: The Rocky Mountain Threads of Life quilts are a meaningful way for donor families to honor their loved one who gave the gift of life. Donor families can create a quilt square in honor of their loved one, which will be sewn into a larger quilt and displayed at various events and gatherings across Colorado and Wyoming. Download a quilt square template to get started.

Donor Family Tribute: Every year in Colorado and every other year in Wyoming, Donor Alliance hosts the Donor Family Tribute. This event recognizes and honors donors and their families. This memorable event enables reflection on those lost and offers hope for the new life that comes as a result of organ and tissue donation.

Connecting Donor Families and Recipients

Many donor family members and recipients have expressed how meaningful it is to connect with one another. Donor Alliance encourages correspondence between donor families and recipients, and is proud to help foster these connections whenever possible. Every year, our Aftercare team facilitates hundreds of letters between donor families and recipients. Although not every family or recipient will choose to connect, many have shared that it is still meaningful to write about their loved one or transplant journey. Donor families can find information about this process, frequently asked questions, and suggestions for what to write here www.donoralliance.org/write. 

Connecting Donor Families and Organ Recipients:

Either the donor family or recipient can initiate contact by sending a letter at any time. There are no waiting periods or time limitations, families and recipients are encouraged to reach out when they feel ready.

Donor families should send their letter to Donor Alliance (either by mail or online), where it is reviewed and forwarded to the hospital where the recipient received their transplant. The transplant hospital will then forward the letter to the recipient.

Recipients should send their letter to their transplant team, where it is reviewed and forwarded to the Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) who coordinated/facilitated the donation. The OPO will then forward the letter to the donor family.

Connecting Donor Families and Tissue Recipients:

Donor Alliance is not provided with specific tissue recipient information, which means we do not have a way of sending a letter to a tissue recipient unless they reach out first. If your loved one donated tissues (bone, soft tissue, heart valves, veins, skin grafts), the tissue recipient(s) must write to you first. If the tissue recipient provides a return address, the donor family may reply.

What If Donor Families Don’t Hear From Their Loved One’s Recipients?

Donor families may or may not receive a reply to their letter, and should be prepared for either outcome. Some recipients may not write due to challenging recovery periods, others are overwhelmed with complex emotions and find it difficult to express their feelings and gratitude. Some recipients may want their privacy, and some may simply need more time. Silence from a recipient does not mean they are ungrateful for the gift they were given, nor does it lessen the lifesaving impact their donor has had on them.

Stories of Connection: When Donor Families and Recipients Meet

Although rare, some of the most powerful moments in the donation community happen when donor families and recipients connect with one another. These connections don’t erase grief, but for many families, they bring a special element of healing. Here are a few of those stories from our own community.

The Hankins Family meets their daughter’s heart recipient:  The family of Katie Hankins, who passed away in May of 2025, came together with Ezequiel Espino and his family. Ezequiel received Katie’s heart and, because of her generosity, is alive today. These moments remind us why this work matters and the lasting impact organ, eye and tissue donation can have on so many lives. Read their full story and watch the video of the two families meeting here. 

Larry and Bill: Larry, a donor father from Cheyenne, Wyoming, lost his son and made the decision to say yes to donation. His son’s heart went to Bill. When Larry and Bill finally met, Larry brought a photo of his son so Bill could see the face of the person whose heart now beats inside him. It’s the kind of moment that reminds everyone involved why this work matters.

These are just a few of the connections that have been made. Many more happen privately, quietly, between families and recipients who wanted to find each other. If you’re considering reaching out, know that our Aftercare team is here to support you through every step of that process.

How to Get Involved and Honor Your Loved One

Grief looks different for everyone, and so does the path forward. For many donor families, getting involved with the donation community becomes a meaningful part of how they carry their loved one’s legacy.

Advocate for Life Program: If you’re looking for a way to give back, we’d love to have you join the hundreds of volunteers from Colorado and Wyoming in our Advocate for Life program. Advocates for Life are essential partners in raising awareness about organ and tissue donation. The key role of our Advocates is to educate and inspire the public to better understand and support donation. It’s one of the most tangible ways a donor family can turn loss into lasting impact.

Not ready to dive into the full program just yet? Come out and help at the Donor Dash. Volunteering at the Donor Dash is a fun way to give some of your time while you decide if you’d like to join the program. We also participate in parades throughout Colorado and Wyoming each year. Follow along on social media for the latest volunteer opportunities.

Donor Alliance Community Events:

The Colorado Donor Dash is our annual 5k run/walk held in Denver to honor, celebrate, and recognize the gift of life. Donor families can honor their loved ones by submitting a message for the Dashboard, writing on the Wall of Honor, and participating in other event activities. Families can also honor their loved one in the Donor Dash Memorial Garden by submitting an order for an honorary sign featuring a photo and words of tribute. Families can participate in the event individually or in a team alongside recipients, living donors, transplant candidates, and supporters as the community comes together to celebrate the lifesaving impact of organ and tissue donation. 

Held each April in Casper, the Wyoming Donor Dash brings together donor families, recipients, living donors, and community members to honor the gift of life. The event provides an opportunity to remember loved ones, celebrate the impact of donation and transplantation, and raise awareness about the importance of registering as an organ and tissue donor. There is also an opportunity for families to display a photo of their loved one on the Wall of Honor. 

Common Questions from Donor Families

Our Aftercare team hears many of the same questions from donor families. Here are answers to the ones that come up most often.

Q: Can we learn more about the outcome of our loved one’s donation? our loved one’s recipients and the impact of their gifts?

A: Yes. Although Donor Alliance is not updated with recipient outcomes, donor families can request an update at any time.

If your loved one donated organs, donor families will receive a letter with initial outcome and general recipient information. While Donor Alliance does not automatically receive any further updates about organ recipients, families can request a general health update on their loved one’s organ recipients at any time. To request an update, please visit: www.donoralliance.org/request

If your loved one donated tissues (bone, soft tissue, skin, heart valves), please be aware that it can take between 6 months and 5 years for donated tissues to be transplanted and specific information to become available. Although we are not provided with specific recipient details, Donor Alliance can research the outcome and share with donor families how many grafts have been transplanted. To request an update, please visit: www.donoralliance.org/request

Q: How soon can we reach out to organ recipients?

A: There is no required waiting period or time limitations before a donor family can write to a recipient. There is no wrong timeline and when you feel ready, our Aftercare team will help you take that first step. For more information about sending a letter, please visit www.donoralliance.org/write

Q: What if we want to meet a recipient in person?

A: Written correspondence is always the first step. Donor Alliance does not have any restrictions on what you can share in your letter, and you are welcome to include your contact information and express your interest in meeting. The recipient may or may not choose to contact you directly, and written correspondence can continue through Donor Alliance for as long as that is desired by either party.

Q: How can I talk to my children about what happened?

A: Talking to children about death and donation is one of the hardest things a family can navigate. Our team can connect you with age-appropriate resources and grief support that addresses the needs of younger family members specifically. For more information, please visit www.donoralliance.org/grief

Q: How can I get involved with Donor Alliance?

A: Beyond the Advocate for Life program described above, there are many ways to stay connected. Following us on social media, attending events, sharing your story when you feel ready, and encouraging others in your life to register as donors are all meaningful ways to keep your loved one’s legacy alive.

Q: Does Donor Alliance provide grief counseling?

A: While Donor Alliance does not facilitate grief counseling directly, we can provide you with information and tools to help find grief support for you or someone in your family. You can request these grief resources at any time through our website.

You Are Not Alone

Our Aftercare team is here as long as you need us, whether that’s in the weeks after donation or years down the road. For more information and aftercare resources, please visit our donor family resources page. 

Hear first-hand from an Aurora woman whose brother provided this special gift earlier this year and find out how easy it is for you and your loved ones to register, too.