Chrysanthemums honoring an elementary school student who fell into brain death and died due to a traffic accident are hung on a fence in Jangcheon-dong, Jinhae-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam. [Photo by Se-ryeong Lee]
In Jangcheon-dong, Jinhae-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam, a 5th-grade elementary school student who fell into brain death due to a traffic accident shared life with three people before passing away.
The child was crossing a crosswalk to go to school around 8:20 a.m. on the 3rd when the accident occurred.
A city bus running from Jinhae-gu Office toward Jinhae Gunhang intersection failed to see the child and hit them with the vehicle.
The child was urgently taken to the hospital and underwent surgery but ended up in a brain-dead state.
The Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency announced on the 20th that the child donated their liver and both kidneys at Busan National University Hospital on the 14th.
Following this news, citizens left memorial flower bouquets around the accident site, and letters addressed to the child were posted on utility poles.
Some citizens stopped in their tracks, bowed their heads, and paid respects to the child's spirit.
The child's parents said they believed the child did not leave immediately at the moment of the accident but waited to give love to those around, which led them to decide on organ donation.
"We think our son, who lived diligently for 11 years more than anyone else, wanted to leave a footprint in the world, even if briefly, and to pass on a positive influence to those around him," they said.
Born prematurely at 24 weeks and having spent 100 days in the neonatal intensive care unit, the child grew up to be a kind and gentle person who approached friends first, and after giving life to three others, became a star in the sky.
On that day, the child's mother said her final farewell to her only son.
"Thank you for being born as my son. I promised to protect you until the end, but I’m sorry I couldn’t keep that promise. In your next life, I pray that you are born with the best body you desire and achieve the dreams you couldn’t fulfill in this life."
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