Woman with Epilepsy Donates Organs, Saving Six Lives

A woman who lived with epilepsy for most of her life has given the gift of life to six individuals through organ donation. Yoon Myung-ae, 54, passed away on July 1st, but her legacy continues as her organs were donated following her brain death at Korea University Guro Hospital. The donated organs included her lungs, liver, kidneys, and corneas, along with skin tissue.

Yoon experienced a sudden respiratory arrest while having a meal with her family on June 27th, leading to her hospitalization. Despite medical efforts, she could not regain consciousness. Her family, understanding her lifelong empathy for those suffering from illness, made the decision to proceed with organ donation, hoping she could perform one last good deed.

“

Knowing that my sister is alive and breathing inside someone else's body is of some comfort.

Her eldest sister expressed that knowing her sister's cells are alive within others offers some comfort. The family also wished for it to be known that even individuals with conditions like epilepsy could become organ donors after medical evaluation, offering hope to others facing similar health challenges.

“

I often nagged her, hoping she would go out more and live a healthier life. We often clashed because of it, and I feel very sorry.

Yoon, the youngest of five siblings, was diagnosed with epilepsy in elementary school. The condition, which causes temporary disruptions in brain cell activity leading to recurrent seizures, required her to take medication for many years. This often made it difficult for her to go out alone or find employment, leading her to spend much of her time at home after high school. Quilting, learned at a community center, was her sole consistent hobby.

Described as deeply kind and considerate, Yoon often worried about others, especially those who were sick. She diligently cared for her mother during hospital stays, stepping in when her siblings were unable to due to work. Her eldest sister lamented that Yoon couldn't fully enjoy a normal life like her peers, expressing regret for past arguments over her desire for Yoon to be more active outdoors. She offered a final farewell, wishing Yoon peace and freedom from illness in the afterlife, reunited with their father.

“

I hope that in that place, you are not sick and can do whatever you want next to our father who left before you.