173 pledge to donate organs in memory of mechanical heart girl

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TAWAU: Equipped with an external mechanical heart, Tee Hui Yee was a spirited teenager in search of a heart donor with hopes of chasing her dream as a kindergarten teacher.

Subsequently she was Malaysia’s first double heart transplant recipient. However, she passed away on Tuesday, just weeks before the fifth anniversary of her heart transplant, barely a few days away from her birthday.

Inspired and touched by the tale of her life, 173 trainee nurses and instructors of Kolej Jururawat Masyarakat Tawau (KJMT) decided to pledge as organ donors during the Organ Donation Awareness program held here.

This event is part of the state-wide Organ Donation Awareness Roadshow conducted by the Regional Transplant and Procurement Management Unit (RTPMU) of the Sabah State Health Department.

Apart from pledging their organs in memory of Hui Yee, the nursing students also designed and signed a condolence banner to express their sympathy and condolences to Hui Yee’s family.

“We hope that this show of our support and care will help her family in their time of grieving,” said Han Sui Lan, Deputy Director (Academic) of KJMT.

Regional Transplant and Procurement Manager Dr Cheah Phee Kheng paid tribute to Tee during his lecture on “Organ and Tissue Donation in Malaysia”.

“Although I have not met Hui Yee personally, she has inspired my team and I to constantly work towards getting organ donors. Looking at her live her life to the fullest is our inspiration to give more people like her this opportunity of a second chance in life. It is indeed a sad day for my team and we would like to extend our deepest condolences to her family,” he said.

“It is an uphill challenge to create public awareness of organ donation due to the vast difference in culture and beliefs in Sabah,” Cheah added.

In July this year, 300 trainee nurses and instructors of Kolej Kejururawatan Sandakan also pledged as organ donors during the Organ Donation Awareness Program conducted by the Regional Transplant and Procurement Management Unit of the Sabah State Health Department.

Members of the public who wish to pledge as organ donors are encouraged to sign up online at www.agiftoflife.gov.my or by calling 1800-88-9080.

Those who wish to contact the Regional Transplant and Procurement Management Unit (Sabah) to organise activities and programs, or to ask any questions or share your opinions regarding organ donation, please send an email to [email protected].