Leong Anqi Gwen Victoria, 14

School: Presbyterian High School

Topic: An email to a close friend who received a heart transplant on how to honour the deceased donor and his family.

A Heartbeat’s Lasting Legacy

Dear Sarah,

I'm so glad you’re back to your healthy, energetic self again! Your desire to do something to honour the deceased donor is beyond words, so you have my full support on this.

We have been two peas in a pod since childhood. I remember our younger selves waving to each other across our bedroom windows; I knew instantly we would be best friends for life. From the start, I was exposed to your diagnosis of a heart condition and was oblivious to the gravity of the situation; it was much more serious than I thought. The unsettling sight of you lying frail on the hospital bed and tethered to complex tubes was something I would never forget. Every shallow breath seemed to require the energy to run a marathon; your face was so pale, almost translucent even. I could see you falling apart, and there were many sleepless nights where the thought of you not waking up tomorrow haunted me endlessly; feelings of distraught followed me everywhere. After a compatible heart had been found for you, I could not believe my eyes. You are back to being full of life and vitality once more. It was nothing short of a miracle; your second chance was purely made possible due to the donor. He has made a profound impact on our everlasting friendship.

To commemorate his heroic sacrifice, I have thought of creating a “Living a Legacy” tribute. It will be a digital space in the form of a QR code, placed in common and accessible areas such as the school canteen. Anyone can simply scan a QR code, bringing them to a platform showcasing the donor’s impact on us, and they can key in messages of gratitude regarding organ donors. Not only that, but the platform would also have a feature of anonymity, giving users privacy. This activity of a digital space is not just to honour the donor, but to encourage organ donation. To spread the message, we should go up on stage during morning assembly to explain the significance of this, while highlighting the QR codes around the school. It will be a good idea to thank the donor’s family personally through a card as it can give them a comforting way to grieve for their lost son.

We will need all the help we can get. First, we’ll approach Mr Toh, our Year Head, for approval. Since donor information is strictly private, we must reach out to the transplant coordinator to ensure our message will be delivered safely to the donor’s family. Lastly, I intend to enlist the support of the Art Club to help us design the card as well as the digital interface of the tribute. We should totally get our classmates on board for decorations; they would be more than eager to help!

I’m ready when you are! Let me know if you’d change anything. Take care; I’ll see you soon.

Cheers,

Victoria

Disclaimer: Please note that the views and opinions expressed in the essays for the Live On Festival 2026 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 ↗ (opens in new tab)