A Special Tribute to Sabahan Donors

During a recent visit to the Gelingan family in their home at Kiulu to learn more about their heart warming gift of life, Dr. Lily Ng and friends were so moved by the sharing attitude of this family in the face of poverty.

No money, no material possessions, and apparently nothing to give anyone. That closely describes the Gelingan family but in June 2001 Gelingan Kuak died and gave far more than just money. Despite their own troubles, this heroic Dusun family of Kiulu still considered the plight of others, and gave life when they freely gave away his precious organs. His heart, kidneys and eyes were transplanted soon after his death onto several patients dying or suffering from endstage organ failure.

If health is wealth, then the recipients who are alive today, have been given wealth indeed. Paradoxically, when it comes to giving and sharing, the Gelingans are rich. Arnold Johnny, his cousin, was the inspiration behind this great deed.

Dulitah Kiah, the widow, and her family live in a simple bamboo hut in the interior of Kiulu. The house is practically bare of material things. Looking up at the bamboo ceiling one can see the sky through the many gaps. During a torrential rain, there is no where to hide from the deluge. Modern contraptions which are deemed so necessary by some such as TVs and telephones are noticeably absent. A photo of the parents of Gelingan hang prominently in a corner. Electric supply and water from taps is not a luxury available to them.

Gelingan Kuak, 49, was working on the land prior to his death. Crops are not easily cultivated due to the poor soil. Gelingan suffered from severe headaches, the cause of which was later found to be a brain tumour in the frontal lobe. Doctors at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu organised for him to be treated at Neurosurgical Unit at Kuala Lumpur Hospital. He was accompanied by cousin Johnny who stayed at Sabah House in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. Son-in-law, Goning, who lives nearer to Kiulu town, provided the main channel of communication between doctors and the family.

Gelingan's death left seven children fatherless and the younger ones to face a bleak future without their breadwinner. The children are Seliah who is 21 years old, Irene 19, Locius 16, Wylin 12, Dulis 8, Anjilimus 7 and the youngest, Wyllena is 4.

At 4 o'clock in the morning when most of us are still snug in bed, the younger Gelingan children start walking down the slope from their home to arrive just on time for school in Kiulu town at 6.30am. After school, it will be another five hours climbing steep rough ground before reaching home. It is an uphill struggle in the afternoon heat, even for a four wheel drive vehicle. During rainy days, school will have to be sacrificed as the ground gets soggy and dangerously slippery.

Arnold Johnny, formerly a construction worker, is a visionary. When approached by doctors in Kuala Lumpur, in particular Dr. Lela Mansor, for organ donation, he immediately provided the encouragement and support via telephone, urging Dulitah and the older children to agree. In their humble way, they wanted to contribute to people and society, and clearly this was a very important way they could.

Gelingan, a Catholic, was brought back and laid to rest in his village, Kampung Gonipis, with the help of Yayasan Sabah. A digital divide exist in sleepy Kiulu kampungs. The importance of Gelingan's organ donation and gift of life, may not have been fully understood and appreciated by its citizens, where even the media has no influence.

Nevertheless we salute him; Gelingan Kuak, Sabah's second multiorgan donor, and the Gelingan family for their unreserved fine example of love. This simple family proved that willingness to give is by far more important than high education or abundance of material possessions among members of a community for the organ donation and transplant programme in our homeland to succeed.

HEART-WARMING GIFT OF HEART/ORGANS A GIFT OF HEART A GIFT FROM THE HEART

Kiulu, Sabah

Gelingan Kuak, 49, became Sabah's second multiorgan donor upon confirmation of brain death, following a brain tumour operation in Kuala Lumpur. Initially, he presented to Queen Elizabeth Hospital with severe headaches. His heart, kidneys and eyes were transplanted soon after onto several patients dying or suffering from end stage organ failure. He left behind a widow and seven children from ages of 4 to 21. Despite their own troubles and their poverty, this heroic Dusun family still considered the plight of others.

Doctors from Sabah Medical Association and friends visited the Gelingans in their home to learn more about their heartwarming gift of life. Arnold Johnny, close cousin of Gelingan Kuak, spoke of his involvement, ultimately leading to consent to donate organs. Johnny, 41, also a Catholic, when approached by Dr. Lela Mansur and other doctors, persuaded the family to agree as it will help others live.

The visitors were so moved by the sharing attitude of this family in the face of poverty, that they independently presented food and monetary gifts. Dr. Lily Ng is doing a further collection for the family and other villagers of money and old useful items on behalf of SAMA. Anyone willing to contribute can contact Dr. Lily Ng (088-218166 or drlilyng@yahoo.co.uk)

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