Naura Auni Binte Mohamed Shafendii, 14

School: Woodgrove School (Secondary)

Topic: Journey of a transplanted organ

“Lucky, I’m glad you’re here. Sweet dreams.” And just like that, Danny drifted off to wonderland.

Danny, my new “home”, calls me Lucky. Danny is an 8-year-old boy who loves soccer. He especially loves to play with friends. Other than that, he loves pasta. Way too much pasta! At first, I did not understand the significance of this name. I am just an organ. I am not a pet! Why give me a name? Why is he glad that I am here? I had just recently adjusted to Danny’s heartbeat rhythm. Slow and a little unsteady, compared to my previous owner’s body, Alina. She was a beautiful girl, and a mesmerising ballet dancer too! My rhythm followed the flow of her dance steps.

Sometimes, when it gets quiet, especially when Danny is asleep, I reflect on how I got here in the first place.

One fine evening, Alina was practising her poised and elegant dance movements as usual, but she suddenly collapsed on the floor. I cannot remember anything that happened between that moment and after she was admitted to the hospital, unfortunately. “Doctor, she is not going to make it. We are trying everything we can!” Nurses, surgeons, and doctors were in a cold sweat. Everyone was panicking, hysterically trying to find more ways to save Alina from her agony.

“Beeeeeep…” Something was ringing. My graceful rhythm stopped. Alina? I could not hear her thoughts anymore… Where did she go? Did she fall asleep?

Something was not right. Just a few moments ago, I was beating a warm, familiar rhythm. Everything went silent in her body. Slowly, all my other friends started to fall into a deep sleep. The peaceful and tranquil world I knew was all gloomy, and I was left in a cold emptiness. The next thing I knew, I was being taken away from Alina. My first home! I had stayed with her for all these years, just for me to be taken away?

I remember being lifted into the air, being closely inspected while hearing frantic murmurs around me.

“Patient 197 is being prepped in the Operating Room as of now. Permission to transport the heart?”

Where am I going? Someone explain to me! Tenuous stress and urgency stirred within me. The murmurs became whispers, eventually leading to everyone talking over one another. Sharp and commanding. The journey was long and… uncertain. Uncertain of where I was going. Uncertain of what happened to my first home. Uncertain of what would happen to my other friends.

Then the luminous and blinding lights washed over me.

The surgeons were quick and precise, executing every step with caution. I recall being placed somewhere warm, like Alina. But this time, it was unsteady and unfamiliar. My friends were not there with me. Everyone was a stranger. Everything was… new. This was not Alina. My Alina. My Home.

For a brief moment, I felt nothing was happening. No rhythm, no warmth, no pulse. I thought this was my time to let go and say goodbye to this world. Where am I? Who is Patient 197? Questions, questions, questions and nobody could answer me. And yet, out of all odds…

“Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum…” I pulsated. The faint, fragile heartbeat started to pulsate more rhythmically over time. MY beat persisted! It was like… reviving a long-forgotten memory. I could hear joyful chatter around me, sniffling, and Patient 197 waking up.

“Danny?” A voice rang out.

This was the moment I became a part of Danny. At first, he was weak, his movements careful and tentative. I could sense his uncertainty, mirroring my own. But as days turned into weeks, strength returned to both of us. With each growing day, his faint giggles became erupting laughter. His steps became stronger. With each passing day, I felt a stronger sense of belonging. I eventually adjusted to his rhythm.

After a week of peaceful rest and getting used to each other, he finally said, “I think I will call it Lucky!”

“Lucky?” Another voice asked. Probably his mom. Why would he name me Lucky? You could have given me other names… like Sir Charming, or Amazing Dude! Alright, jokes aside, I am just an organ. I am not a pet. Why give me a name?

“I’m lucky to have Lucky. It saved my life, Mom!” That sentence still lingers with me to this day.

“Good morning, Lucky!” Danny’s yawn and voice jolted me from my reverie. I know where I truly belong. I'm lucky to have Danny, too.

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)