The family received the letter before Christmas.
Newport’s Brad Clucas said he has no doubt his mother has since pored over it many times quietly with a cup of tea.
Two years ago, Brad’s younger brother, Jay, died after battling depression. The 32-year-old tradie from Derrimut had been going through personal issues.
Jay was on life support for four days at Footscray Hospital where his family learnt he was an organ donor, a decision they felt privileged to honour.
Brad said Jay had been the life of the party and would always make sure other people were OK.
His organ donation may have helped upwards of 12 people.
The letter was their first thank you received from a recipient of one of his organs.
“It was one of immense gratitude,” Brad said.
“We all read it before Christmas and the recipient was saying that they didn’t really know how to start writing the letter but eventually wrote two or three paragraphs.
“Ultimately, it was just, the gift from Jay, they were extremely appreciative of and really grateful for the sacrifice that he made.
“It meant everything to mum.
“I’ve no doubt mum quietly sat here with a cup of tea and remembered a lot of things, but not only tears of sadness but tears of joy and immense pride in Jay.
“We talk too much about TV celebrities or football people being heroes but when you’re really saving lives – people who are donating organs, paramedics, etcetera – they’re people that are the heroes.
“We all at times go through just periods of sadness and loss and you never forget, but you celebrate those lives and the courageous thing that he’s done.”
People are being encouraged to have the conversation about organ donation during DonateLife Week from July 29 to August 5.
Last year, 148 Victorian families made the decision to donate their loved ones’ organs. These donors donated 465 organs to save the lives of 389 recipients. As at the end of June, Victoria’s donation numbers for 2018 so far are up 31 per cent on the same time last year as 93 families have agreed to donate their loved ones’ organs.
About 1400 Australians are on waiting lists for the call that a life-saving organ has become available.
People who have previously recorded a donation decision on their driver’s licence still need to join the Australian Organ Donor Register.
It takes less than a minute to register online at www.donatelife.gov.au
Anyone experiencing mental health issues can call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
