A man in his 50s who kept a positive outlook through more than a decade of dialysis treatment gave hope to about 100 patients by donating human tissue in his final moments.
Choi Yong-jin, 56, died at Wonkwang University Sanbon Hospital on July 9 after donating bone, fascia, heart valves, blood vessels and pericardium, the Korea Organ Donation Agency said on the 31st. Human tissue donation can help about 100 patients with functional impairments recover.
Choi had told his family of his intention to donate, according to the agency. "About two years ago, my uncle handed me his donor registration card and asked me to make sure his tissue could be donated if anything happened to him," said his nephew, Choi Boo-won. "The family decided to honor his wishes."
The youngest of three brothers, Choi suffered a serious leg injury in a traffic accident in his 20s and had difficulty walking afterward, his family said. Despite his health problems, he worked steadily as a community bus driver and in the used-car business until he began kidney dialysis in his early 40s.
His family recalled that Choi stayed in touch with friends and maintained a positive attitude throughout his long illness. When relatives worried about his health, he would reassure them instead, telling them not to worry because he was living happily.
"It hurts even more because my uncle tried to live positively and never lost his smile even in difficult circumstances," Choi Boo-won said in a final farewell. "I hope he can now meet my grandmother and spend only good times with her."
