Evonne Toh Jie Xi, 14

School: Methodist Girls’ School (Secondary)

Topic: Do donor families find hope in organ donation?

Award: Fourth Place, Junior Category, 2022

A Second Lease Of Life For Both Me And You

Someday, everyone’s time in this world will come to an end. It may have been caused by a fatal accident. It could have been an anticipated event. But no matter the reason, it will leave someone grieving for the loss of their loved ones. To have lost a loved one feels like being dragged into the murky depths of cold and muddy water, a feeling of overwhelming sadness that eats at your heart whenever you think of your deceased kin. This kind of despair and agony cannot be alleviated by any amount of condolences. But families of the deceased can find hope in organ donation.

So, you may wonder, how would a family find hope in removing the organs of their loved ones and donating it to another person? Well, let me explain the reasons to you.

Donor families find hope in organ donation because organ donation allows their deceased loved ones to continue ‘living’. Even though they might have passed away, donor families find hope and relief in knowing that a piece of their deceased family is still somewhere in this world. Let me give you an example.

I once encountered a story about parents donating the cornea of their late daughter to someone who has had their cornea damaged. Their daughter, when alive, enjoyed the scenic beauty of this world. And now, through the organ donation, she got a second chance to enjoy them again even though a victim of a fatal car accident. This is what the parents of the girl found hope in; that even though passed on, their deceased daughter is still seeing the vibrant colours and the beautiful wonders of the world. The parents of this girl were at a peace of heart, knowing that their beloved daughter was once again relishing in the beauty of this world, just through a different pair of eyes. She was still living on.

The second reason why families find hope in organ donation is because it allows them to move on from the deaths of their loved ones, and carry on with life as normal. I came across a video where a couple had donated their late son’s face to someone who had their face burnt in a car accident. As the boy had died suddenly, he did not have a chance to say goodbye to his family. But when the recipient had given the donor family a hug of gratitude for giving him this chance to continue living a normal life, it was as if their own son had come back to life and gave them a hug, letting them know that he had loved them a lot. After being ‘reunited’ with their late son, it served as a closure, and the family managed to put aside their grief and carry on with life as usual. This was the best gift that they could ever have, the mother of the boy said.

The third reason why families find hope in donating the organs of their loved ones is to continue their legacy of doing good and helping others. So that their late loved ones will not be known as ‘the one who died in a tragic car accident’, but instead be remembered as someone noble who had donated his organs after passing on, saving the lives of others’. Donor families are heartened to know that their deceased loved ones are doing one last good deed after their passing, and hope that after they have given back to society, they have spiritually gone somewhere better.

Is it not so miraculous that, after centuries of medical research, humans are given the abilities to breathe a second lease of life into others? Is it not so magical, that after passing on, organ donors are given the chance to enjoy this world again? Organ donation is truly such a wondrous thing, for it not only gives the recipients to continue with their lives as normal, but also for the organ donors, who get a second chance to live on in someone else, and their families, who are hopeful once again. No longer stuck in their murky waters of grief and despair, donor families can finally take a big gulp of air, knowing that their loved ones are living on.

Disclaimer: Please note that the views and opinions expressed in the essays for the Live On Festival 2022 are those of the participants and are not endorsed by the National Organ Transplant Unit (Ministry of Health). To learn more about organ donation and organ transplantation in Singapore, please visit www.liveon.gov.sg