Brain Dead from Cerebral Hemorrhage... Mother of Three Children Saves Seven Lives and Ascends to Heaven

Deceased Individual Expressed Willingness for Organ Donation During Lifetime

A mother of three children, who said she wanted to donate her organs without hesitation at the last moment of her life if it could save someone's life, passed away after saving seven people through brain-dead organ donation.

On the 3rd, the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency announced that Mi-Young Jo (47), who was brain-dead last month, donated her heart, lungs (left and right), liver, kidneys (left and right), and eyes (left and right) through brain-dead organ donation at the Catholic University Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital on the 1st of last month.

Donor Jomiyoung Cho (47) [Photo courtesy of Korea Organ Donation Agency, Yonhap News]

She had visited the hospital on September 24th due to dizziness but lost consciousness and collapsed. She became brain-dead after failing to regain consciousness due to a cerebral hemorrhage.

Although the family was deeply distressed by the sudden farewell, they decided to honor Jo’s wishes and proceed with organ donation. Jo had said during her lifetime that whenever organ donation news appeared on TV, if such a thing happened to her, she would want to donate without hesitation to help someone else.

Jo’s husband, Cheol-Ho Lee, inquired about the possibility of organ donation the evening she collapsed after hearing from medical staff that she could pass away at any moment. The family was confident that their beloved mother and wife would want to live on by saving others’ lives rather than being left as ashes.

Born as the eldest daughter among one son and two daughters in Hadong, Gyeongnam, Jo was always warm-hearted, greeting those around her with a bright smile. She was a reliable mother to her three children and a caring and considerate wife to her husband.

Her husband Lee said, "I will live thinking you are always by my side. Don’t worry about the children, and please watch over us from heaven. When we meet again in heaven, tell me I did well. I love you the most in the world," delivering his final farewell.

Jo’s daughter, Hyun-Joo Lee, said, "I was happy to be your daughter, and I will always remember you without forgetting. I love you, and please stay healthy and pain-free in heaven."

Moon In-Sung, director of the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency, expressed gratitude, saying, "We thank the donor who promised to donate for someone else at the last moment of life and the bereaved family who agreed to fulfill that promise. We will do our best to ensure that this precious life-sharing is carried out well."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.