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SINGAPORE: Some Singaporeans suggest that the government could look into compensating family members who donate organs to their loved ones to encourage more related donations.
This, after the Health Ministry said last month it is studying how to reimburse those who donate their organs to non-related patients.
Last month, Jenny Thomas donated a kidney to her 19-year-old cousin, Maryann, who was diagnosed with kidney failure five years ago.
But Jenny, who is 32, nearly gave up the idea of organ donation because of the multitude of medical tests and a year-long wait before the scheduled surgery.
Jenny said: "It was very tedious for me. I had to stop my job because of the appointments that were given to me and we can't change the appointments or cancel them because if we do it, they say we're not committed, and they want more commitment from the donors. It was very, very tiring and stressful."
Jenny's mother was initially worried that the organ donation would affect her daughter's health. But she changed her mind after seeing her once-active niece suffer while on dialysis.
Mary John, Jenny's mother, said: "My sister-in-law gave me a call and told me that the doctor told her that we can look for a donor for Maryann, my niece. So she told me......she thought of going to India if there wasn't any donor in Singapore. She didn't mind going to India to get a donor for her. But after that, she dropped the idea. If my own daughter, if she needed a kidney, definitely I need someone in family or even a stranger to come forward. I was very, very proud when Jenny and my son came forward."
The entire medical bill came up to some S$8,000. But thanks to government subsidies, Jenny only needed to fork out about S$2,000.
Jenny said: "You must care for the person, you must love the person, you want to see the person live, that's the most important."
After the surgery, Jenny now feels tired very easily and has to watch her diet carefully. For the next three months, she also has to visit the hospital regularly for check-ups and blood tests.
But all these inconveniences mean nothing, knowing that she is able to give her cousin a better life, and that's a life without dialysis.
- CNA/ir
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