Pangco Noa Stina Veluz, 14

School: Yuying Secondary School

Topic: Your organ transplant journey as a teenager

Award: Distinction, Junior Category, 2024

A Good Match

I sat on my bed in silence. I felt the dread and anxiety swallow me whole while sweating like a waterfall. The few days after I was admitted to the hospital, I was so worried about my future and what would become of me if I had not been a good match with the donor who was able to donate their kidney to me. Soon, I was going for the transplant surgery. Although my doctor told me about how high the success rate of the transplant would be, I still could not get rid of the thought of what if the transplant did not go well? I closed my eyes and tried to stabilise my breathing.

The time came for the transplant surgery, I was sent to the operating theatre. The doctor gave me my anesthesia and I slowly drifted to sleep.

My life had turned upside down when I had found out about my failing kidney. The symptoms had developed quickly, and I had horrible fatigue. I could barely eat, and my appetite decreased significantly. I had throbbing headaches that would not disappear, to the point that I felt like my brain would explode. After the diagnosis of my kidney failure, I was immediately hospitalised. My health was declining quickly, and I was in desperate need of a kidney donor. I thought it would be the end of me.

A few months prior to showing symptoms of my kidney failure, I had participated in a nation-wide art competition. All my life I have loved art and art only. When I was younger, everyone I knew would call me the ‘Next Leonardo da Vinci’. Winning this competition would mean the world to me, so I would not dare to ever lose this competition.

Unfortunately, the effects of my failing kidney had overwhelmed me completely. My mind was all over the place and I felt like ripping my hair out. I had experienced the worst art block of my life. I suddenly could not produce the god-tier level artworks I would have always been able to create all thanks to the headaches and fatigue, and I was getting weaker by the day to the point I could barely pick up my paintbrush due to my grip losing its strength which led to my hands trembling horribly. I felt like collapsing. I hyperventilated over the fact that I thought I would never be able to paint again.

I awoke to the bright rays of the morning light beaming in through the window, lightheaded from the anesthesia. My parents were at my bedside, waiting for me to wake up from the surgery, “Chloe, you’re awake!” my mother heaved a huge sigh of relief, alongside my father who was crying tears of joy after the successful transplant. Soon enough, I recovered from the surgery in full health and no complications.

My parents and I found out from the doctor that my kidney donor was a young woman who had sadly passed away due to brain death from a stroke. Hearing this, I felt completely sorrowful for the poor woman, and I was extremely grateful for her being able to help me live on.

As I arrived home, I walked into my room. I took a deep breath and sat down in front of the unfinished canvas. I still had about a month or so to finish my artwork, and I chose to create a new piece. I put my heart and soul into the artwork, colours, and shapes of the minutiae strokes of my brush spread out onto the huge canvas. I decided to dedicate the piece towards my kidney donor who I will forever be grateful for and to help show how much she has impacted my life.

Now came the moment of truth, it was finally the day when I would hear the results of the competition. The long-awaited letter arrived at my doorstep. I swiftly ran to the door and ripped open the envelope. I held my breath and skimmed through the letter. I immediately spotted the words of congratulations, and my eyes grew wide and my jaw dropped. Tears welled up in my eyes and I jumped for joy, “First place!”

Had it not been for the young woman who donated her kidney to me, I would not have been able to win this competition.

Disclaimer: Please note that the views and opinions expressed in the essays for the Live On Festival 2024 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