Kate Yar Kai Li, 14

School: CHIJ Katong Convent

Topic: Do donor families find hope in organ donation?

Award: High Distinction, Junior Category, 2022

Restoring Life

It is common for us to think about the recipients or donors of organs when we think of organ donation, but we rarely take into account the families of donors.

When donor families donate their loved one’s organs, they feel waves of emotion. Families of deceased donors want to make a positive difference in the world, spreading feelings of hope, even if it means having to donate their deceased loved one’s organs. However, the feeling of hope is not the only feeling they encounter. They may experience feelings of apprehension, when they hope for the transplant to go smoothly, or happiness when they know that someone else might be able to receive a second chance.

It takes a great deal of courage, a willing and selfless heart to be able to do something this miraculous for someone without expecting anything in return.

When donor families donate their loved one’s organs, they know how their actions could help to reduce the number of people on the waiting list, waiting patiently for their chance to be able to live life normally again. It is fulfilling for donor families to donate their loved one’s organs because they know they will be able to share their elation with another when their loved one’s organs are donated and they have helped someone who truly needs it. Families of donors know that their sacrifice was not in vain when they donate their loved one’s organs, and that someone else will benefit from their generosity.

Life is like a river. It flows continuously until something like dirt or debris obstructs it. Dirt and detritus blocking the flow of the river are similar to organ failure; it is hard to carry on ordinarily as if nothing ever changed. Although, when donor families use their most valuable treasures, their deceased loved one’s organs, which may be all they have left of their loved one, and ‘remove’ the obstructing dirt or detrius, the flow continues as it had before. They help even with the knowledge that they will never be able to cherish those treasures again, but they still help because they know it will make a positive change in the world.

Donor families do not want someone to live the rest of their life depending on a machine that could break down anytime at any given moment, or for someone to not be able to do anything they desire without something pulling them back.

Donor families are the true heroes behind the scenes, and they want to make the best out of their sorrowful situation so that someone else can have another chance at life and they want to make the world a better place, even if it means they have to lose a piece of what they cherish the most. Families of organ donors long to restore a sense of wholeness to another. Donor families want to help someone live life to the fullest, even if it was just for a little longer, and experience what this phenomenal universe has to offer.

Disclaimer: Please note that the views and opinions expressed in the essays for the Live On Festival 2022 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)