Shyanne Anjali Jeevanandham, 13

School: Pasir Ris Crest Secondary School

Topic: An email to encourage a student from your school

Award: Special Mention, Junior Category, 2025

Dear Avery, 

Please accept my heartfelt condolences for the loss of your father. It is indeed immensely painful to lose a loved one and you will certainly need time to grieve and get through. I hope you’re giving yourselves the time and space to grieve, and that you find some comfort in each other’s presence as you slowly begin to heal from this sudden loss. 

I learned about what happened to your father from the news and was shaken by the tragic traffic accident. Yet amidst the sadness, I was profoundly moved to read that he had donated his organs to benefit six patients — all of whom, I believe, are strangers to your family. I have never known such an altruistic and heartwarming person in my life and reading about what your father did, made me reflect on the kind of compassion and humanity we can bring into the world, even in the face of immense loss. Your father’s story holds a personal significance for me. I lost my grandfather to lung cancer, and prior to that, he was placed on the waiting list for a lung transplant seven years ago. For my family and I, we weren’t too hopeful that a lung transplant could happen but the thought of receiving a donor gave my grandfather hope and strength to wake up every day. That’s why stories like your father’s mean so much. To know that there are patients who have a second chance at life through an organ transplant is incredibly moving. 

Although your family had to struggle with the tragic news of the passing of your father, I also hope you feel an immense sense of pride in his decision to donate his organs. In doing so, he has provided these families with much more than money can buy. Through his selflessness, he has helped others whom he has not even met, and renewed dreams and hope to the families of these patients too. The impact is exponential. Although your father was not able to survive, his heartwarming act of kindness to those patients has allowed parts of himself to continue living through the lives of the patients he saved. They must be extremely grateful to your father for having a chance to receive healthy organs which will ease the medical burdens on their families. I hope your family will take heart and be consoled that somewhere in this world, part of your father is healthy, giving life, giving hope and giving love to others. 

I do hope your family is managing well with such a heartbreaking loss, and if there is ever a need, I can lend you a listening ear and provide emotional support. I, too, have lost loved ones so I do empathise. It is alright to feel sad as it is completely normal to take some time to process what has happened before resuming normalcy. Do not worry. Before I end, I want to say that your father is truly a compassionate person. His heroic act of giving life through his own functional organs will surely help your family cherish lasting memories of your father while creating new connections with the recipients’ families. 

Yours Faithfully,

Shyanne

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