Hair Donation for Pediatric Patients
Parents Also Register as Organ Donation Hopefuls
"Thank you so much, angel. Please continue to watch over me. I will live healthily from now on."
These were the words spoken on May 2, three days before Children's Day, by Kim Liwon (8), a second grader in elementary school who was diagnosed with 'biliary atresia.'
8-year-old Kim Li-won, who regained health through a liver transplant. [Photo by the Korea Organ Donation Movement Headquarters]
On the 5th, Yonhap News shared the story of 8-year-old Liwon, who received a new life through organ donation and regained her health. Born in May 2016, Liwon was diagnosed with 'biliary atresia' just 78 days after birth. The news was a thunderbolt to her mother, Lee Seung-ah, who had taken her daughter to the hospital due to worsening jaundice symptoms.
Although she underwent surgery, complications caused her condition to improve and worsen repeatedly. The last hope was a liver transplant. However, it was not easy for such a small and fragile child, weighing less than 6 kg at 14 months old, to receive an organ transplant. Even her parents were deemed unsuitable donors for their daughter.
Her mother, Ms. Lee, recalled, "There were many days when my husband and I cried watching the fluid accumulate in her abdomen and her limbs become emaciated. We wanted to step forward when told a liver transplant was necessary, but we were devastated by the unsuitability diagnosis."
Then, an angel donor appeared for Liwon. In July 2017, a woman in her early 30s who was brain-dead gave new life to many patients, including Liwon, before passing away.
"Health Restored Through the Donor’s Sacrifice"
Ms. Lee referred to this donor as an 'angel.' She said, "Because of the donor’s sacrifice, our child was able to regain her health. I felt both immense gratitude and sorrow at the same time. This noble and magnificent choice allowed our child to grow up healthy and strong," wiping away tears.
After the surgery, she silently promised the donor, "Thank you so much for giving Liwon life. I will never forget the love of the bereaved family who made this difficult and painful decision, and I will live even more diligently."
Even before Liwon could understand words, she was told about the 'angel' donor. Now, whenever she looks at the moon at night, she immediately prays to the 'angel' donor. Ms. Lee laughed, saying, "Liwon sometimes says, 'Angel, I don’t even eat salty food well. Please help me stay healthy.'” They also promised to share the hope they received from the angel with others.
After Liwon’s transplant surgery, the Lees registered as organ donation hopefuls in 2018. Ms. Lee said, "Before Liwon got sick, I didn’t know there were so many sick children in the world, and I had never thought about organ donation. I want to give back the gratitude I received and become a hope for someone else."
Now a lively elementary school student, Kim Liwon has grown into a cheerful child who loves dancing and drawing. Despite her young age, she also participates in donation and sharing activities. At the end of last year, Liwon cut her long hair short. The cut hair was donated to children suffering from pediatric cancer.
Liwon said, "I thought sick friends didn’t want to be sick, so it must be very upsetting for them. My mom told me that the hair would be made into wigs for sick friends, so I cut it because I wanted to be a better person."
Ms. Lee said, "If I ever get to meet the bereaved families, I want to show them Liwon growing up healthily and energetically. We will never forget the great love of the donor, our lifesaver, and will raise Liwon to be a healthy and upright child."
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