Management of survival guilt by a Chinese widower through the use of continuing bonds

Abstract

Death of a live organ donor as a result of organ transplantation is rare. However, such a death can be a devastating experience for the organ recipients, especially so if the donors are close relatives. Donor recipients commonly experienced survival guilt and this guilt may lead to complicated grief. Given the low prevalence of such deaths caused by organ transplantation, little is known about its impact on the survivor recipients. This lack of awareness may lead to disenfranchisement of grief in individuals who lose their close relatives. Based on the conventionally neglected perspective of one Chinese widower whose spouse died after giving him a portion of her liver, this article documents how he managed his survival guilt through continuing bonds with his deceased spouse. Effects of continuing bonds are discussed and the article concludes with recommendations. Continuing bonds highlighted in this article are defined as the integration of the deceased's identity into the life of bereaved individuals. In this study, it was observed that this integration may be therapeutic in elevating survival guilt experienced by Chinese individuals who have lost their close relatives after receiving the close relatives' organ. © 2010 Taylor & Francis.