Quek En Xuan, Esther, 13

School: St. Margaret's School (Secondary)

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

Award: Merit, Junior Category, 2026

Things You Can Do to Honour the Deceased Donor and His Family

Dear Jamie,

How have you been since I last visited you? I hope you are recovering well and are getting emotionally and physically better. That day when I visited you in the hospital, I could see how grateful and emotional you were after receiving your heart transplant. I am really happy for you and thankful that the operation was successful. As your close friend, your heart transplant has greatly impacted me.

Before the surgery, I was always worried about your health and whether you would have enough time to receive a suitable donor heart. After learning that the average waiting time for a heart transplant is around three years, and that only about one out of six patients on the waiting list in Singapore receives a new heart each year, I realised how fortunate and precious this opportunity was. I felt a sense of overwhelming relief and was over the moon knowing that you no longer had to suffer from heart disease every day or fear if you would even be able to see another tomorrow. At the same time, I also felt deeply grateful to the donor and the donor’s family for giving you another chance to live.

I have been thinking about some meaningful ways we can honour the deceased donor and the donor’s family ever since you mentioned it when I visited. Firstly, we could make heartfelt gratitude cards to express our appreciation to them for this wonderful opportunity and their decision. Even though they might be sad, knowing that their loved one saved another person’s life may comfort them. Secondly, if you are comfortable with it, we could share your story with others to advocate for organ donation and educate people about the importance of the Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA), which allows suitable organs to be donated after death. Lastly, I think one of the best ways to honour the donor is to live in honour of the gift you received. You can take good care of your health, do something the donor wished to do but did not do to dedicate them, and maybe even celebrate your “heart anniversary” every year as a reminder of the donor’s kindness.

To carry out these ideas, we would need some simple resources such as card-making materials, a platform to share your story, and reminders for your yearly heart anniversary. We could also learn more about the donor’s wishes or interests so that you could dedicate certain achievements or activities to him. I believe your family, close friends, and even the donor’s family would be motivated to participate because they all care deeply about you and understand how meaningful this transplant was.

I really hope you will consider these ideas. No matter what you decide to do, I will always support you and stand by your side. Most importantly, I hope you continue recovering well and living your life happily and fully.

Love,
Emma

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)