Eunice Yong En Qi, 15

School: Presbyterian High School

Topic: Email about your father’s gift

Award: Distinction, Senior Category, 2022

Dear Uncle James

Hello, how have you been? Due to the ongoing pandemic, I have not seen you and your family for so long! Wow, I really miss our monthly barbecues at your house, where our families would chat for hours on end while enjoying good food. Last week, my father informed me of your kidney condition, so I thought it best to check up on you through this email. I would like to take this opportunity to strongly encourage you to accept my father’s kidney donation, and to reassure you that my parents and I are always here to provide support and help to the best of our ability.

First of all, I would like to say that my father has taken many factors into consideration before deciding to offer his kidney for donation. As your brother, he truly wants to help you in any possible way. Uncle James, you are the sole breadwinner of your family and your family relies on you greatly. In the unfortunate case that the condition of your kidney deteriorates further, Aunt May and your son, Alex, may have a hard time managing medical bills on top of their daily expenses. As a result, they may encounter financial difficulties and problems.

You may feel that there are other treatment options that look more promising or beneficial as compared to organ donation. After doing some research, I have discovered that alternative treatment options for kidney failure may not be suitable for you. I am not sure if you know this, but my father has told me so many stories about your passion for hiking and rock climbing! Upon hearing these stories, I noticed that you enjoy an active lifestyle. I believe that you have considered undergoing dialysis as it is a widely-used treatment option for kidney failure. However, dialysis is very inconvenient. You would have to go for dialysis sessions three times a week, with each session lasting four hours long! Due to the huge chunk of time used for dialysis, half of your week would be spent in the hospital. You would neither be able to go on your fortnightly hiking trips, nor your daily jogs around the neighbourhood. This would greatly restrict your active lifestyle and the discomfort from dialysis treatment may prevent you from doing outdoor activities altogether.

Now, I would like to explain why kidney donation is your best option. Statistics have shown that the chances of being matched with a suitable donor are very low, and that the waiting time for the needed organ to be made available to the recipient is extremely long. Upon hearing about your kidney condition, Aunt May and Alex immediately went for a medical examination to determine their eligibility of becoming your donor. However, the results showed that they are medically unsuitable to donate their kidney to you.

On the other hand, my father has undergone the same medical examination procedure, and the results revealed that he would be a suitable kidney donor for you. I would like to emphasise that he is more than willing to donate his kidney to you. Above all, he is your older brother and he would do anything to keep you safe and in good health. By ensuring that you can stay healthy with a new kidney, you will be able to continue to provide for your family and enjoy the active lifestyle that you have grown accustomed to. I understand that you do not want my father to take such a big risk by donating his kidney to you. However, I would like to, once again, reassure you that my father is in top-notch condition and that he is medically fit to be your donor. He is well aware of the risks of donating his kidney, such as possible infections and blood clots that may happen during the procedure. Even after taking all these factors and risks into consideration, my father still feels compelled to donate his kidney to you and hopes that you would reconsider his offer.

Uncle James, my father truly wants nothing but the best for you and your family. As your older brother, my father hopes to be there for you in difficult times, and he wishes to render as much assistance as possible, in all ways possible. Therefore, we sincerely hope that you will accept his offer. Please rest well.

Cheers
Eunice Yong

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