A 30-Year-Old Who Cared for Dogs Facing Euthanasia Gives New Life to 7 People and Passes Away

A woman in her 30s who did not regain consciousness after a sudden cardiac arrest donated life to seven people and passed away.

According to the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency on the 13th, Lee Mi-jung (37) donated her heart, lungs, liver, left and right kidneys, and left and right eyeballs to seven people through brain death organ donation at Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital of the Catholic University last month on the 15th.

The late Lee Mi-jung, who donated organs to seven people before passing away. Provided by Korea Organ Donation Agency

Ms. Lee went into a brain-dead state after a sudden cardiac arrest in July and never regained consciousness. Her family decided to donate with the hope that she would continue to live somewhere.

Born in Busan, Ms. Lee was bright and lively during her lifetime and had a personality that approached those in need first. When she worked at an animal hospital, she took home a dog that was blind and facing euthanasia out of pity and lived with it. Also, when she worked as a customer service manager, she often received thank-you letters from employees who were learning the job for the first time or struggling to adapt after returning from parental leave, as she took good care of them, according to her family.

Ms. Lee’s mother, Lee Je-soon, said her final farewell to her daughter, who became an angel in heaven: "I can no longer see you, but I will live thinking that you are breathing and living somewhere. Be happy in heaven."

Lee Sam-yeol, director of the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency, said, "We thank the donor family who decided to donate to save other lives while sending off their beloved family member and the donor who practiced life sharing," adding, "We hope this precious life sharing will make society warmer, and the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency will do its best to save more lives."