Organ Transplant Recipients Embrace New Life, Leaving Death Behind

Feature: The Path of Great Love in Organ Donation, Part 3 (CNA reporters Cai Mengyu and Lin Qiaolian, Kaohsiung, 6th) Many patients in Taiwan are waiting for organ transplants to survive. The moment they are幸运 enough to receive a transplant is filled with indescribable gratitude for the patients and their families. Some young recipients have gone from being students to parents over the years since their transplant, their futures given hope by the great love of their donors.

Yu Zixuan, now 45, was diagnosed with Wilson's disease in her third year of junior high school when her eyes turned yellow and her abdomen swelled. Doctors said a liver transplant was the only cure.

To focus on her treatment, Yu's family moved back to Tainan, and she regularly visited Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. During the summer vacation after her college entrance exams, she was hospitalized for a liver transplant evaluation. "I remember the angiography was very scary; the tube was thick and painful. That was the first time I felt like I was really seriously ill," she recalled.

● Daughter waited 3 years for a liver transplant; father was too nervous to drive

After waiting about three years, when she was a senior in high school, Chang Gung called to schedule the surgery. Yu was at school when her parents were notified to pick her up. The hospital said the liver transplant surgery would take place that very night. Her father was so nervous he couldn't drive, so they paid for an ambulance to take them to the hospital.

Reflecting on the waiting period, Yu said, "I just let nature take its course. I felt that organ transplantation means another person's passing, so I couldn't wish for someone else's demise for my own rebirth." When she heard the surgery was possible, she couldn't help but think, "What happened to that person?"

The surgery was successful. She took anti-rejection medication and her body adapted well. She traveled with her parents and tried activities like diving, cherishing her time with family. She later married and had a child, but experienced rejection after giving birth, with her liver enzymes spiking. Fortunately, a change in medication helped her recover.

It has been 28 years since Yu's liver transplant, and she is in good health. "I am very grateful to the person who donated their liver and their family. I don't know what I can do for them, but I think I should do more good deeds, for them and for myself," she said. She shares her experience with her children, teaching them to "thank this person for their great love."

Yu currently works as an administrative staff member at a hospital. She says organ donation not only gave her a new life but also made her more empathetic towards sick people and their families. Her personality has become more open-minded, and she is more proactive, believing in "doing what you want to do without wasting time."

Another recipient, Mr. Zhuang, was diagnosed with acute glomerulonephritis in his senior year of college after seeking treatment for a cold and blood in his urine. Although his condition was stable with regular check-ups and medication, he started peritoneal dialysis five years later. His family was evaluated for donation but was not a match.

● Receiving an organ for a new life, passing on the great love

In 2015, Mr. Zhuang received a kidney transplant from a deceased donor. He experienced recurrent fevers and hospitalizations after the surgery, and at one point felt physically and mentally exhausted and wanted to give up. However, he was grateful for the donor's and their family's great love, so he persevered and actively faced the challenges. Years later, he has regular check-ups, his body has adapted well, and he has married and had children, starting a new life.

Another recipient, retired teacher Mr. Chen, was suffering from kidney failure and undergoing dialysis. In 2022, he suddenly received a call from the hospital about a kidney transplant opportunity. He has adapted well since the surgery.

Mr. Chen, who loves to travel, has been able to enjoy a wonderful retirement with his family. He thanked the donor and their family for turning their grief into great love, giving him a chance at a new life.

However, not all recipients have smooth recoveries. Social worker Chen Xiaoqin said that a 27-year-old man with myocarditis spent four months in the ICU. He finally received a heart transplant, but unfortunately experienced rapid rejection.

Although this recipient could not ultimately prolong his life, because he had received a donation, his mother was willing to continue the great love and also donated her organs to benefit others. The fated encounter between donor and recipient is like a never-ending relay of life, passing hope and love from one to the next. (Editor: Huang Mingxi) 1150606