Transplant: A Second Chance at Life

This commentary discusses thirteen stories written by transplant recipients or caregivers and describes what they experienced during their transplant journeys. The stories explain the importance of support during transplant from both family and loved ones as well as the medical team. The authors describe challenges they faced when medical teams were not supportive and, in their stories, refer to transplant as a journey filled with positives and negatives, an experience that never ends. What is most interesting about these stories is the deep connection the recipients and caregivers have with their donors. These connections are filled with mixed emotions of gratitude, guilt, gratefulness, and a sense of responsibility to protect the gift they received.