30s Mom Collapses on Family Trip, Gives New Life to 5 People Before Her 'Heavenly Journey'

Husband: "Don't Worry About the Kids, Just Rest Comfortably"

A woman in her 30s who collapsed and fell into a brain-dead state on the day she planned to travel with her children gifted new lives to five people through organ donation and passed away.

On the 8th, the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency announced that on the 28th of last month, Won In-ae (36) saved five lives through brain-dead organ donation at St. Vincent's Hospital. Ten years ago, Won underwent surgery for Moyamoya disease and had been recovering when she collapsed at home on the 16th of last month. She was transported to the hospital but ultimately did not regain consciousness and fell into a brain-dead state.

The late Won In-ae. [Image provided by Korea Organ Donation Agency]

The day Won collapsed was the day she had planned to travel with her children. However, due to the rain, Won stayed home to do housework, and her husband took the children to a kids' cafe. Won, who was lying collapsed at home, was discovered by her husband upon returning from the kids' cafe.

Won’s family agreed to the donation, thinking it would be better to gift new lives to others rather than have Won spend her final moments lying down. Won donated organs including her heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys (left and right), saving five lives.

Born as the eldest of two siblings in Gumi, Gyeongbuk, Won was introverted and enjoyed spending time with her family. She liked exercising such as yoga and Pilates, and enjoyed driving and flower viewing. Won’s husband said, "I want to share the special life-sharing of an ordinary mother who loved her children with many people," adding, "I hope to give transplant waiting patients, who have been unable to live ordinary lives due to pain, a chance to live normal daily lives and to comfort their families as well."

He tearfully said to the deceased, "Thank you for being with us, and I hope you rest peacefully without worrying too much about the children," and "We will raise the children so they have nothing to envy, so please watch over them well from heaven."

Moon In-seong, director of the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency, said, "We express our gratitude to the donor who promised to donate for someone else at the last moment of life and to the donor’s bereaved family who agreed to the donation to fulfill that promise."

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