Alden Alexius, 13

School: Bukit Batok Secondary School

Topic: Two interviews with a donor family

Award: Distinction, Junior Category, 2025

When I first met Michael’s parents, they were seated quietly in a private waiting room at the hospital. They had just said goodbye to their son. Hours earlier, Michael’s organs were carefully transported for transplant surgeries around the country. 

His mother looked at me with tears in her eyes. His father stayed close beside her, his hand never once letting go of hers. 

“We donated his organs,” his mother began, her voice trembling, “because it’s what Michael would have wanted.” 

She told me about her son, Michael, a 20-year-old student that always carried a smile and a warm heart. “He was always helping others,” she said. 

When she spoke about the accident, she didn’t go into much detail. The pain in her eyes told the story. It was a car crash, it was sudden. There was no time for goodbyes. And yet—there was something left to be done. 

“When the doctors asked us if we would consider donation, I couldn’t breathe,” she admitted. “At first, I said no. The idea of him not being whole felt wrong. But then I thought about Michael. How he always wanted to help others. I realized — we weren’t taking anything from him. We were following through on the kind of person he was.” 

His father, quiet until now, finally spoke. “I just kept thinking about what he would want. Not what we wanted. But what he would’ve wanted. That’s what helped us let go.” 

They then told me about the organs that had been donated. “His heart is still beating. Right now, it’s keeping someone alive,” his mother said, tears finally falling. “His kidneys gave two people freedom from dialysis. And his eyes were given to someone who will see the world again.” 

I asked her the question I was most afraid to voice: Did she regret it? 

She didn’t hesitate. “No. As much as it hurts, we don’t regret it. If we’d kept him whole, it would’ve been for us — not for him. This way, a part of him is still alive. Continuously helping.” 

There are few things harder than watching parents grieve the loss of their child. But that day, I witnessed something else too: courage. 

It’s been three months. Today, we met again at their home. The house was quieter, Micheal’s room untouched. But in the midst, there’s a sense of something — an almost invisible thread of strength holding everything together. 

When I asked how they’ve been, Michael’s mother answered first, gently: “It’s different now. The pain hasn’t lessened. But I can still feel Michael’s soul around.” 

I asked the next question: Do you have any regrets now? 

“Never,” she says, her tone steady. “It was the hardest decision we’ve ever made. But now that time has passed, I know we did the right thing.” 

She tells me about the letters they’ve received. A young father who got Michael’s heart can now play sports with his children again. A woman who was nearly blind now sees the beautiful world with Michael’s eyes. “Reading those letters, it’s just like watching him doing kind deeds again.” 

Finally, I ask: If Michael could hear you now, what would you say to him? 

She went quiet for a moment, she then took in a deep breath and started. 

“Michael, I miss you more than I can ever explain. I think about you every day. But I want you to know… we listened. We followed your heart. And because of you, others are alive. You’re still giving, still making the world better. Your kindness will not stop yet, it will continue. I love you. I’ll carry you with me, always.” she said, tears dripping down her eyes. 

In the face of unbearable loss, Michael’s family made a choice — a choice not of despair, but of hope. Three months later, their grief remains, but so does a legacy of compassion, and life. 

Michael’s heart beats on, his eyes still see, and his kidneys still work. He lives forever, and so does his kindness.

Disclaimer: Please note that the views and opinions expressed in the essays for the Live On Festival 2025 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