Receiving a heart that saved his life, Steven Taibbi lives every day in profound gratitude and wanted to include the donor’s family in his life. His donor David Jason Jocobo, a healthy 36 year old man, father of four, suffered a brain aneurysm and collapsed in front of the family, dying just three days later. The family donated their son’s organs so that others may live. In gratitude for this incomparable gift of a healthy heart, Steven Taibbi wrote a thank you letter of profound gratitude to the Jocobo family.
Several letters over time went unanswered. Steven understood it was too painful for them, but, he did not give up. The route to meeting each other was long and complicated because of the specific rules of communication with strict limitations between recipient and donor. Letters are delivered through an organization as neither donor nor recipient are ever given each other’s phone numbers, address or full names.
Only 3% of donor families answer any correspondence, let alone meet the recipient, Eventually, David’s mother expressed their desire to meet in what Steven describes as a beautifully handwritten note, which, on receiving, Steven pressed to his heart, to her son’s heart.
Steven arrived with a stethoscope in hand, should they wish to listen to the heart of their son and father beating in Steven’s chest. All the women in the family – mother, sister, daughter, ex-wife and aunt – took turns listening, while the male members of the family could not bring themselves to listen.
What did Mrs. Jocobo assure Steven once they met? How did David’s children respond to this meeting? What did Steven feel on the initial meeting? What part did Facebook and email play? What role did Steven’s wife play in this. Oh, by the way, Steven and his wife just celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary.
In the world of love/gratitude letters, this meeting and what stemmed from it could not have been achieved without a heartfelt letter, or as it turns out, a series of them. Steven encourages all recipients to write gratitude love letters to the donor families. The power of those letters, is unequaled and the only way to communicate until both recipient and donor families are ready to take the relationship into their own hands.
In meeting his donor’s family, Steven created a new one for himself. So, if you are in the mood for miracles, gratitude, and learning what it takes to be a donor and a recipient, get a box of Kleenex and watch Steven talk about this unparalleled journey.