Tay Rui Yi Rachel, 14

School: Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary)

Topic: An email to encourage a student from your school

Award: Distinction, Junior Category, 2025

His Love Lives On 

Dear Renee^[1], 

I hope this letter finds you well. I’m Rachel Tay, a fellow student from your school and CCA. I know this email may come as a surprise to you, but I recently came across news of a gentleman’s unfortunate passing, along with his generous organ donations. Upon realising that he was your father, I decided to write to you. 

Firstly, I would like to offer my deepest condolences to your family and you. I’m certain that words cannot possibly describe the grief you must be going through, and though we don’t know each other personally, rest assured that I’m here to help in any way I can. Through our few interactions during CCA, I’ve gotten glimpses of your bright and magnanimous personality, traits no doubt imparted from your equally incredible father.

When I first caught wind of the news, I was stunned speechless. How could someone lend such a selfless thought to others, when they themselves were in excruciating pain? However, as I dug deeper into your father’s story, the puzzle pieces began to fall into place. I could practically sense his warm and gracious nature through the page, his sacrifice transcending boundaries and impacting others. Truly, his actions conveyed an unbridled sense of selflessness, prioritising complete strangers’ futures over his own. 

Of course, grief is challenging to process, and not a single one of your feelings should be invalidated. Take things at your own pace, and deal with your emotions how you wish to. Take a walk, eat your favourite dessert, whichever positive outlet you’d like to choose. Some days, you might just want to curl up in bed and have a moment to yourself, and that is perfectly fine. Ultimately, your health comes first and foremost. If you ever require assistance, a trusted friend, or simply someone to lend you a listening ear, I’ll always be there to help. Just know that I’m rooting for you every step of the way. 

At the end of the day, I want you to know just how impactful your father’s donations are, to doctors and nurses, patients and their families. Thanks to your dad, six families could hug their loved ones once again. Thanks to your dad, they’ve been given a second chance, revived and renewed and miraculously revitalised. With this, your family can find solace in the knowledge that his legacy lives on, human to human, an immortalised hero. Your father’s contributions have not gone unnoticed, his soul poured into the people around him. 

Heart wounds can’t completely heal, but I hope that one day, you’ll be able to hug the one who holds your father’s heart, embrace the girl who houses his love-sent liver, shake the hand of the man who gazed upon the Earth with his curious corneas. And I hope that when that day comes, you’ll be able to break into a broad smile, cheek pressed against their chest, feeling his heartbeat sing the rhythms of a champion’s selfless stand. 

Love,

Rachel Tay

References

1. Female version of the name “Ren”, which is Latin for kidney.

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