Deceased’s Organs Save Four Lives

Twenty-seven-year-old Simon Ng Ying Chee could not besaved but his generosity and compassion managed to save the life of a 16-year-old boy and three others from life threatening complications.

The air-conditioning technician suffered severe head injuries during a routine work assignment and succumbed to the injuries on Aug 28 at the Intensive Care Unit of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Ng's family, acting upon his wishes, agreed to donate his liver, heart, kidneys and eyes, which could potentially save or enhance the lives of nine other people. According to a statement issued by the hospital's director Datin Dr Rahimah Mohd Said, Ng had also offered to donate his lungs but the National Heart Institute could not send a qualified surgeon to make the procurement in time.

 On Sept 1 this year, liver transplant surgeon Dr Russell Strong successfully performed a surgery to transplant Ng’s liver to a teenager in need of it. Ng is believed to be the first liver donor from Sabah.

         World famous Liver Transplant Surgeon, Russel Strong retrieving multiple                organs at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Ng's kidneys were donated to two kidney patients fromSabah, who had matching blood groups while his corneas were given to a 26-year-old and 60-year-old eye patients respectively.

His heart, consisting of four heart valves, was sent to the National Heart Institute for transplant later.

The organ donation procedure was assisted by hospital tissue organ procurement co-ordinator Dr Lily Ng. "Despite the support of most religions, the number of organ donors remain low because a lot of people don't think about their mortality. Hospital staff too are hesitant to burden grieving relatives with a request for organ donation and public understanding about organ donation is also low,” Dr. Ng said.

My Brother's Keeper - The Legacy of Sabah's First Liver & Heart Donor  

 

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