Research Watch: The Science of Gratitude and Health

For many transplant families, gratitude becomes more than a feeling — it’s a daily rhythm. Between hospital visits, medication schedules, and school pickups, the quiet moments of thankfulness often hold the most meaning.

This month, we celebrate the everyday acts of gratitude that sustain our community. Gratitude might look like a parent thanking a nurse who goes the extra mile, a donor family lighting a candle for the child they loved, or a teen transplant recipient writing their first college essay about resilience.

Research shows that practicing gratitude can reduce stress and improve emotional well-being, something every caregiver deserves. It’s not about ignoring the hard days, but noticing the good ones when they come.

As we enter the season of giving thanks, consider keeping a short “gratitude note” each week as a reminder of what or who helped you through. Small reflections can grow into deep appreciation for the people and moments that make this journey possible.

Call to action: Share one moment of gratitude from your family’s transplant story on our Facebook or Instagram page this month — we’d love to highlight your story in our community spotlight.

Gratitude is more than an emotion — it’s linked to measurable benefits for transplant recipients and caregivers alike. Recent studies show that practicing gratitude may help lower stress, improve sleep, and strengthen emotional resilience in families managing chronic illness.

• Study highlight: A 2023 paper in Pediatric Transplantation found that caregivers who engaged in structured gratitude journaling reported less caregiver fatigue and better overall wellbeing over a 12-week period.

• What it means: Recognizing and expressing appreciation — even briefly — can create a positive feedback loop that supports emotional balance during recovery and long-term care.

• How to try it: Families might share one “thankful moment” at dinner or keep a weekly gratitude photo board. These practices can become part of the family’s care rhythm.

As always, check in with your care team before making changes to any mental health or wellness routine.

Read more:

• “Gratitude and Wellbeing in Pediatric Transplant Care” – Pediatric Transplantation, 2023

• Psychological processing among caregivers of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients (Tan K et al., 2022). Among caregivers of pediatric/stem-cell transplant, positive emotions like gratitude were described during the post-transplant journey. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov