Ng Cheng Jie, 16

School: NUS High School of Mathematics and Science

Topic: An email to encourage a kidney dialysis patient

Award: Distinction, Senior Category, 2025

Dear Uncle Sammy, 

I hope this message reaches you on a gentle day, one where the sun isn’t harsh, you feel a bit lighter, and your heart finds some quiet. I am Cheng Jie, a student who recently visited your dialysis centre as part of my school’s Community Involvement Programme. During that visit, something you talked about left a lasting impression on me. When you shared how ashamed you felt to ask your family if they might consider donating a kidney, your words settled deep in my heart. I’ve thought about them many times since, and I felt I couldn’t walk away from them without writing to you. 

Please forgive me if I’m being too forward, but I truly wanted to reach out, not just as a student or visitor, but as someone who saw you and heard you. I may not know your entire journey, but I can imagine the quiet battles that you face every day. Dialysis, from what I’ve learned, is more than just a medical routine. It’s a demanding and exhausting process that affects every aspect of your life. Your appetite, your energy, your freedom, and even your time with your loved ones. I may not know exactly how dialysis works, but this I do know: it takes great strength and patience to endure it day after day. And from what I saw in you, you carry that burden with quiet dignity. 

Still, even the strongest among us are allowed to feel tired. It is in those moments that we remember we don’t have to go through everything alone. 

I wanted to share with you a new perspective that perhaps no one has said yet. Beyond being a simple medical solution, a kidney transplant could mean much more. It could be a bridge back to a fuller life, for you and your family. I say this not to rush you, but to remind you that your wellness matters to the people around you, often more than you may realise. Right now, even though they may not explicitly show it, your family might be carrying the worry silently, not knowing how to help. The sight of a loved one hooked up to machines, slowly sapping their energy, is by no means at all a bearable sight. 

A transplant could bring not only relief to your body but peace to their hearts. Imagine being able to sit with your loved ones on a breezy weekend, enjoying a family picnic without having to worry about dialysis timings. Imagine attending family gatherings without the fatigue hanging over your shoulders. It would be a gift not just to you, but to your loved ones too. A gift of more time together, more laughter, more ordinary joys that people take for granted. 

That being said, I understand why you hesitate. Asking a family member for something so huge must feel like the hardest thing in the world. You may worry that it’s selfish, or it’s too much to ask for. But I honestly believe that sometimes, the people who love us are waiting for a gentle nudge or a moment of honesty that opens the door to possibilities. They may not have thought about donation simply because they don’t know how much it could help. Or they may be afraid of saying the wrong thing. Without your voice, they may never realise that this is an option. 

You don’t have to demand anything. All you’d be doing is giving them the chance to love you in a new way, to consider something they may actually be willing, or even honoured, to do for you. Many people who have donated a kidney say that it has given them a deep sense of purpose, because they were able to offer life, quite literally, to someone whom they truly care about. 

If you ever feel ready to talk to them, you could start gently. You could share what you’ve been going through, honestly but calmly. Perhaps you could choose one family member you trust most and confide in them first, not to ask for a kidney right away, but just to open your heart. Let them know about the struggle and let them know you’re thinking about what’s possible. 

At the same time, you could also explain that you understand how serious of a decision it is, and that you’re not expecting an answer immediately, just a conversation. Perhaps offer to attend a consultation session with a doctor together, just so that everyone can understand what’s involved and clarify any queries they may have. Even sharing a message like this with your family might help start the conversation if words are too difficult to say aloud. 

And remember, talking about it doesn’t make you a burden. It makes you a brave individual. Brave enough to believe that you matter, and brave enough to believe that the people who love you want to know how to help. I may not know your family personally, but I’m certain they love you way more than you may think. Sometimes, people need to be reminded that love doesn’t necessarily come in grand gestures. It’s also the willingness to engage in difficult conversations, the open-mindedness to listen, and also the courage to say “I’ll think about it” even when afraid. You have already endured so much, and deserve not just survival, but the chance at a fuller life. I hope you’ll give your loved ones the opportunity to walk this path with you. 

Thank you for letting me write to you. It means a lot more to me than you know. You’ve already touched someone’s heart just by being you: mine. And I believe, wholeheartedly, that your family will feel the same warmth when you share your thoughts with them. As Tymoff once said, “Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow.” Let those who love you carry this journey with you, because love is strongest when shared. 

With the deepest respect,

Cheng Jie

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