'Supermom' Balancing Doctoral Studies and Childcare
Leaves After Saving Four Lives Through Brain Death Organ Donation
A woman in her 40s, a 'supermom' who pursued a doctoral course in dance while diligently raising twins, saved four lives through brain-dead organ donation and soared to the heavens as if dancing.
Jang Hee-jae, who saved four precious lives through brain-dead organ donation and passed away to the heavens. [Photo by Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency]
On the 8th, the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency announced that Jang Hee-jae (43) donated her lungs, liver, and both kidneys through brain-dead organ donation at Chungnam National University Hospital on the 16th of last month. On the 9th of last month, Jang suffered cardiac arrest while sleeping at her parents' house with her family and was immediately transported to the hospital but did not regain consciousness and fell into a brain-dead state.
The bereaved family stated, "We wanted to tell our 7-year-old twin sons that their mother did a good deed and left," and added, "We decided to donate with the hope that she would live and breathe inside someone else's body." Since Jang had witnessed her maternal grandmother undergoing kidney dialysis for over 20 years and suffering from organ pain, they believe Jang understood better than anyone the desperate feelings of families waiting for organ donations.
Through this organ donation, which saved four precious lives, Jang was born as the second child among one son and two daughters in Seoul. Influenced by her elder sister who was a dancer, Jang started dancing in high school and completed her bachelor's and master's degrees in dance at Chungnam National University. She was known as a 'supermom' who balanced doctoral studies and raising twins while teaching dance classes in elementary and middle schools as well as at several universities. She maintained excellent grades throughout her university years, receiving scholarships every time, and showed innate talent in dance by winning gold awards at national dance festivals.
Jang Hee-jae, who saved four precious lives through brain-dead organ donation and passed away to the heavens. [Photo by Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency]
Jang’s mother, Kim Gwang-sook, said, "Hee-jae, I miss you so much. I call your name several times every morning. Don’t worry about the kids and rest peacefully now. Please appear often in my dreams. Then I will tell you about the children," adding, "It’s harder because the kids seem to miss their mother. Please watch over them from heaven so they can grow up well. I love you."
Her elder sister, Jang Hye-seon, said, "I loved you so much and was so happy to be your sister," and added, "I’m sorry I couldn’t do more. I think you left me two sons as a gift, and I will raise them well with my daughter. As long as I live and breathe, I will be their mother, so rest peacefully in heaven," bidding her farewell.
Acting Director Byun Hyo-soon of the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency expressed, "At the final moments of life, we extend our gratitude to the donor who practiced life-sharing for others and to the donor’s bereaved family who consented to the donation," and said, "All of us at the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency will do our best to save precious lives."
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