Hanoi boy's organ donation application written just two days before his death

On February 20, the hotline of the National Organ Transplant Coordination Center received a call from a woman. She was Le Thi Phuong, from Hanoi. She asked about the organ donation registration form of her cousin, Hac Ngoc Trung, which she had sent to the center on February 19.

The center staff said they had not received this application. The caller informed them that Mr. Trung had passed away and that his family wanted to donate his corneas according to the deceased's wishes.

A representative of the National Organ Transplant Coordination Center said that Mr. Trung's organ donation application was only sent to the hospital on February 22. His letter, dated February 18, was written by Ms. Le Thi Phuong.

"He was very weak that day," Ms. Phuong said. His scribbled signature on the application also clearly showed his exhaustion.

Upon receiving information from the National Organ Transplant Coordination Center, Mr. Nguyen Huu Hoang, Director of the Eye Bank, Central Eye Hospital, immediately went to Hospital 198 - where Mr. Trung breathed his last - to receive the cornea. The family was in pain but all agreed to donate the cornea.

"This is the 23rd person to donate corneas in 2019. The young man's noble gesture helps bring light to 2 people," said Mr. Hoang.

According to Mr. Hoang, the hospital is consulting to transplant Mr. Trung's corneas to patients on the waiting list.

Mr. Hac Ngoc Trung works in the banking industry. He was diagnosed with stomach cancer two months ago. In his final days, he shared his wish that when he passes away, he will be able to donate his organs and a part of his body to life and medicine.