Man with cerebral palsy donates kidney to mother: 'Being with Mom is happiness'

Choi Woo-jin, a 38-year-old man diagnosed with cerebral palsy, made the profound decision to donate one of his kidneys to his mother, Ha Da-gam, 66. The transplant surgery took place on the 11th at Bongseong Memorial Hospital in Busan.

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I just wanted my mother to live by my side for a long time.

Choi explained his motivation stemmed from a deep desire to have his mother by his side for as long as possible. Ha Da-gam had been suffering from significantly reduced kidney function, leading to swelling and complications from diabetes. She had been undergoing dialysis three times a week, a journey Choi accompanied her on, providing support despite his own physical challenges.

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I think a life where I can be with my mother for a long time is much happier than my own health.

He even quit his administrative assistant job to better care for his mother. Choi expressed immense joy upon hearing that his mother's kidney function improved from 8% to 99% post-surgery. The most significant hurdle was convincing his mother and medical staff, who were initially cautious due to the rigorous screening for living donors and potential health risks for Choi. However, Choi remained steadfast, believing that a life spent with his mother was far more valuable than his own health.

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I was very happy to hear that my mother's kidney function improved from 8% before surgery to 99% after surgery.