Shannon Seng Dian Hui, 14

School: Dunman High School

Topic: Describe how you feel hearing someone close, receiving a heart transplant

Award: Third Place, Junior Category, 2023

The Ripple Effect of Organ Donation: Heart to Heart

When our loved ones undergo a life-changing event, the consequent ripple effect permeates our lives like a stone dropped into water, leaving an indelible impact on our thoughts, perspectives, and most notably and directly of all, our emotions. In particular, receiving the news of a loved one having undergone a heart transplant would elicit relief, worry and gratitude within me, my emotional landscape becoming a tapestry of complicated and overwhelming sentiments.

The first ripple; relief. The immediate reaction would be the previous weight of uncertainty and fear for the loved one being lifted, the vice grip around my heart loosened. Just knowing my loved one had been able to receive help and that our time together had been extended would undoubtedly renew my hope and bring immeasurable relief at this reassurance. The burden of worry and the constant anticipation of the worst possible outcome would dissipate, replaced by this newfound hope for both me and my loved one. In that very moment, a weight would be lifted from my shoulders, and we would be able to breathe a sigh of relief, as light as a feather. Even if for just a moment, the peace that sigh would bring to our hearts and minds would be as elusive as a shooting star and just as cherished.

Then, the thud of the stone against the riverbed; worry. In contrast to the original wave of relief, as the reality of the situation settles in, apprehension on behalf of my loved one would take hold. While the news of my loved one receiving a heart transplant would bring hope for the future, it would also bring with it great uncertainty e.g. complications such as organ rejection, psychological struggles, demanding requirements, etc. I would start to question how smoothly everything would actually go, worrying endlessly about my loved one. The fragility of life would have been taught to me in vivid technicolour through the prior experience of watching my loved one grapple with their heart condition, and my acute awareness of the risks that would be lying had would be no less great. Every setback, no matter how small, would spark a surge of anxiety as it would pull us back to before when we had had so little hope and were preparing for the worst-case scenario. The balance between hope and fear is delicate, and my worry stemming from my care and concern for my loved one would toe the line perfectly.

Finally, the stone pressed into the dirt of the riverbed moves no further; gratitude. The final feeling would brush against my heart and head almost as an afterthought, but the impact it would bring would be like a delicate butterfly, fluttering gently from bud to bud, leaving a trail of indelibility in its wake. Like clockwork, it would cycle back to relief, the hope in it an undying flame inside me. Together, we had faced the looming possibility of the worst-case scenario, a constant shadow that grew with each passing day. But now, against all odds, my loved one has received a second chance — a chance for a new beginning. As I reflected on all the struggles my loved one has endured up, a spark of gratitude would be lit into existence, and flaring with it, the hope inside me. The spark of gratitude would cast such a warm glow on painful memories now highlighted with resilience and determination, just as if it was paying tribute to my loved one’s journey. Upon us receiving the light of renewed hope, how could I be anything but grateful for it? My gratitude would extend beyond words, branching out to encompass the selflessness and courage of the organ donor and their family, and the dedication of the involved medical professionals, because their actions had served to bring us our hope, for which I would be all the more grateful for.

As the stone finds its place in the riverbed, the ripples of the contact would still continue, leaving a spider web of everlasting hope. Such impactful news would set in motion a series of emotions: relief, worry, gratitude. Yet they are united in being rooted in our care for our loved ones and fueled by the hope brought to us. That is how profound the impact of organ donation is.

Disclaimer: Please note that the views and opinions expressed in the essays for the Live On Festival 2023 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