The Gift of Life

On May 26, 2001, Yoshitaka Tsukahara, a bright, 22-year-old Japanese student, was enjoying a brief holiday in Hong Kong when he suddenly had a severe asthmatic attack. By the time he arrived at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, he was unconscious and had no pulse. He was resuscitated and put on life support.
When his mother, father and brother arrived in Hong Kong from Japan, they were told that Yoshitaka had probably suffered severe brain damage. Over the next few days, his condition continued to deteriorate, and on May 31 tests confirmed there was no blood flowing to his brain. At 11:26 that morning he was declared brain dead.
Yoshitaka's family was talking about bringing his body home for cremation when his father, Makoto, spoke up. ''Maybe we can donate his organs,'' he said. ''When I arrived in Hong Kong, I saw a young woman in the street who had severe burns on her face. It made me think that maybe Yoshitaka's organs and skin tissue could be used to help other people.''
Shortly after,the hospital's transplant coordinator carefully explained to the family how Yoshitaka's organs would be a source of life to others.Makoto signed a consent from authorising a multi organ donation.On that afternoon,family and friends gathered around Yoshitaka's hospital to bid him farewell.HIs body was wheeled into and operating room,where his organs were removed and taken to transplant centres throughout Hong Kong.
"I sometimes recall that his heart,liver and kidneys are still alive in someone else's body.I hope people all over the world will come to realise the significance of organ donation,"says Yoshitaka's mother Kazue.
If you were Yoshitaka's parents,will you choose to donote his own sons organs out?And if you were Yoshitaka,will you choose to do that?If we all work together,everyone who needs an organ will get one,and countless lives will be saved.It may turn out to be your own life that is saved.