A man in his 40s who raised his daughter alone after losing his wife has given new life to six people through organ donation after being declared brain-dead.
Park Jong-hee, 43, donated his heart, liver, both kidneys and corneas at Chosun University Hospital on the 4th of this month, the Korea Organ Donation Agency said on the 17th.
On the night of Aug. 23, Park exchanged his usual phone call with his mother to check in on her. The next day, he was found collapsed at home. He underwent surgery for a brain hemorrhage after being taken to a hospital but was ultimately declared brain-dead.
An only child, Park was mature from an early age and never gave his mother cause for worry, according to his family. He prepared his own meals and helped with housework while waiting for his mother, who worked late into the night.
After graduating, Park spent more than 20 years working in retail sales. He raised his only daughter by himself after his wife died. He would approach older people who needed help and assist them, and at work he treated colleagues and customers warmly, like family. He liked giving to those around him so much that he would repay a single favor three or four times over, his family said.
Park had a positive view of donation during his lifetime, according to his family. When his mother expressed her wish to donate her body after death, Park supported her decision.
Park's mother, Roh Pan-im, said she had been keeping his mobile phone while he was hospitalized and received many calls from worried acquaintances. "Many friends and co-workers came to the funeral home as well," she said. "Watching that, I thought, 'He lived a short life, but he lived it well,' and it was a great comfort."
Addressing her son, she said her final goodbye: "Jong-hee, I am deeply sad that you left so early, but when I think that you did a good thing on your way out, it makes your mother happy too. Don't worry about me, and I hope you spend your time there doing only good things, just as you did while you were here."
To those who received her son's organs, Roh said, "I hope you live long and healthy lives, including the life my son did not get to live."
