Organ Donation Family Conflict Daughter Waiting for Transplant Becomes Donor

[NHK] In the past, it was necessary for the person himself to donate organs when he became brain dead. That is, the Organ Transplant Law revised 11 years ago came into effect ...

In the past, it was necessary for the person to donate organs when he was in a state of brain death.

This has been possible with the consent of the family since the revised Organ Transplant Law came into force 11 years ago.

How does the family decide to donate organs from brain death?

The Japan Organ Transplant Network conducted the first time for the families of organ donors, and this was announced. * In the questionnaire survey, about half of the families decided to donate without knowing their intentions.

A 4-year-old daughter who was waiting for an organ transplant due to severe heart disease became brain dead and a family member who decided to donate organs told us.

* Questionnaire results are posted at the end of the article

Intractable disease that suddenly hit my daughter

Mr. and Mrs. Daisuke Shiraki and Mr. Kika, who donated the organs of their daughter several years ago, responded to the interview.

My daughter Yuki was 4 years old at the time.

Suddenly, something happened to Yuki-chan, who loves to move and was a kind child who takes good care of her sister.

Repeated vomiting, and symptoms like cold.

And my face was swollen.

Daisuke-san

"The swelling was so bad that my face was really fluffy. I felt it wasn't just a matter of course." The

name of the disease was "dilated cardiomyopathy."

He was hospitalized immediately because of an intractable disease that reduces the ability of the heart to pump blood, and began treatment with drugs that reduce the burden on the heart.

Ms. Kika

"I didn't get it because it was a disease I didn't know at all when I heard the name of the disease. It felt like it was a serious illness."

The condition worsens, the only means is a heart transplant

Two months after admission, Yuki fell into a state of lifelessness without a ventricular assist device that helps the heart work, and a doctor told her that she had no choice but to undergo a heart transplant.

Ms. Kika:

"That's the only way to live. When I think about how to save it, if I can't save my life without getting the organs of others, I wonder if that's the only way to live."

Days waiting for a transplant

Immediately after being informed of the need for an organ transplant, Daisuke bought a camera, took a picture of Yuki-chan, and started recording it on SNS.

"My first camera shoot. Today was a tough and long day. That's why I shot with my first camera."

Daisuke

"At that time, I was crying almost every day, but myself. I thought I had to take a picture of my daughter even if I cried. I thought I had to cut out the moment. "

"This is the third surgery to stop the bleeding at the insertion part of the ventricular assist device, and this is the third time to open the chest. I am really doing my best as my own child."

"He woke me up on the way. When I said,'I'll go grilled meat when he's healed,' he nodded,'Yeah.'"

I felt that

family was trying hard to live. It was.

Daisuke:

"In the dark, I felt like walking on a tightrope, aiming for a state where I couldn't tell if something was shining. We wanted the organs to come out of our throat."

The reality that there are almost no organ transplants for children in Japan

Organ transplantation from brain death began in Japan in 1997, when the law was enforced.

The law was amended, and from 2010, even if the person's intention is unknown, it is possible to donate organs after brain death with the consent of the family. ▽ Children under the age of 15 can also donate organs.

However, the number of heart transplants for children is small in Japan, and Daisuke and Kika decided to prepare for a transplant overseas.

"December 27. It is decided to officially accept from (overseas) recipients. First of all, I took a step forward. I haven't heard (Yuki-chan's) voice for another month. Want to hear "

From the side waiting for the transplant to the side providing it ...

However, 100 days after continuing the treatment, Yuki-chan's condition suddenly changed.

A blood clot formed in the ventricular assist device, resulting in a cerebral infarction that clogged blood vessels in the brain.

Doctors told me that I was in a "brain dead state" where I lost about three-quarters of my brain's function and couldn't continue treatment.

"There is also a compression of the brain stem from the teacher brain itself is not longer little function. Was a story that can not be treated to improve from here. Was full of endlessly tears. A lot of memories I cried so that the

happy

memories would boost me. I cried so much that I never cried. ”

What can we do to save our daughter who tried to live hard?

Daisuke and Kika, who have been thinking about their daughter, make heavy decisions.

I decided to donate Yuki-chan's organs to those waiting for a transplant.

"After calming down a little, I asked the teacher if I could use Yuki's organs for children who are waiting for organs like Yuki."

Nozomi

"I want organs

" At first I was thinking about it, but since I had time to think about life, I quickly came up with the idea that my child wouldn't offer it immediately when that happened. "

"I want to send it out with a smile" Last family time

Immediately before donating the organs, the family spent their last time together in the hospital room, taking handprints and footprints to leave a living proof of Yuki-chan.

I couldn't do it during the treatment, but I hugged him.

"Family is warm. Family is the most precious thing in the world. People spend their days pretending to be understood. Yuki tells his father a lot. Was

What my daughter made me realize

Yuki's lungs, kidneys, and liver were transplanted to people suffering from illness.

Mr. Shiraki has received news from his family who received the organ donation that he is doing well.

Daisuke

"I thing hard to get over to the child's death is sad, to select the organ donation is, me and reminds the Do's that light the light for those who of the family around it,"

Mr. NozomiKei

"his death I wonder if both the side and the side receiving (organs) have taught me that they are equal or that they are the same people. The importance of life, the compassion for the other person, and the same life for me and the other person. I think he taught me the most important thing as a person, that is weight. "

(Social Program Department, Yasunari Hojo, Science and Culture Department, Yukiko Yamashita, Yuta Mizuno)