Li Jia Zhen Joelle, 13

School: Dunman High School

Topic: Do donor families find hope in organ donation?

Award: Distinction, Junior Category, 2022

What is organ donation? It is the gracious and noble act of kindness that involves a donor, alive or deceased, donating their organ to a recipient who is in desperate need of one. Organ donation is regarded as a glorified act as it allows the donors to give someone else a new lease of life so that they can lead a life of normalcy while continuing to pursue their goals.

For the deceased donor families, it can be all too melancholic to think of their loved ones’ organs being harvested for donation. On top of that, they also must contain the guilt of experiencing organ donation by their deceased beloved ones followed by the grief of sending them off without having their bodies intact during the funeral procession which is a common belief among many religions. As such, the acute psychological stress and shock that comes with the passing of loved ones may affect one immensely to the extent that they would face emotional trauma. In the worst scenario, they would be deprived of the ability to make decisions due to the severe mental pain. Thus, a minority of donor families would choose to opt out from the organ donation scheme.

However, this final gift can serve as the start of a healing journey for many families. Through organ donation, one would also believe that a part of their deceased ones is still alive in the recipient’s body, allowing the family to cling on to the final glimpse of optimism and to restore the damage in their broken hearts while they move on. For instance, there was a survey done by University of Rochester on how donor families can find hope in organ donation. According to Lori Barette in an article, the family members shared that they were motivated by the prospect that “something positive could come out of their loss” and that “someone else would have a better life,” in a way, interpreting that their family members live on.

In a similar vein, donor families may also find hope, knowing that their beloved ones would die a hero, paying life forward to others through organ donation, leaving behind a legacy of hope and kindness for others to emulate. This can serve as a meaningful gesture to save lives by beginning the miracle of organ donation as there is no greater gift than the wonder of life. At present, there are about 400 patients on the waiting list for an organ transplant according to a reliable source. Therefore, this shows the significance of organ donation can greatly impact countless lives. This act of altruism will benefit others, allowing them to embark on a new chapter in their lives. Hence, if donor families decide to donate their loved one’s organs, it will bring hope.

In a nutshell, organ donation is a purposeful gift. Though it marks the end of one’s chapter of life, it also ignites the flame that was once lost in another. This final gift can also serve as a ray of light and hope to the donor’s families.

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)