"Forever Our Beloved First Daughter" Five-Year-Old Yuna Gives New Life to Three People

Sudden Fatigue and Headaches This Year
Declared Brain-Dead After Failing to Regain Consciousness Post-Surgery

Brain-dead organ donor, 5-year-old girl O Yuna. Provided by the Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency.

The eldest of fraternal twins, a 5-year-old girl, has given the gift of life to three people through brain-dead organ donation before passing away.

The Korea Organ and Tissue Donation Agency announced on July 9 that Oh Yuna donated her heart, lungs, and both kidneys to three recipients through brain-dead organ donation at Samsung Medical Center on May 14. She also donated vascular tissue.

Yuna was born in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do in July 2020, arriving earlier than expected after spending 25 weeks in her mother’s womb. At birth, she underwent a shunt operation to drain cerebrospinal fluid and control intracranial pressure due to hydrocephalus caused by a cerebral hemorrhage.

Born one minute before her twin brother Siheon, Yuna was said to be a caring and dependable older sister who looked after her sibling. She was especially affectionate, frequently hugging her parents and expressing her love generously. Her teachers at daycare often said, "Just seeing Yuna’s smile brightens our day," as she was always a cheerful child with a radiant smile.

Yuna grew up healthy without major illnesses, but in early May of this year, she suddenly developed headaches and fatigue, and her condition worsened despite hospital treatment. After surgery, she did not regain consciousness and was declared brain-dead. After much deliberation, her mother, Shim Ji-young, made the decision to donate her organs.

Shim explained that she had been interested in organ donation since her college days and had told her family to donate her organs if anything were ever to happen to her. She said, "It was not easy to make the decision when it involved my beloved daughter, but I wanted Yuna to remain in this world in some way."

She added, "I hoped that because of Yuna, others would be able to live longer." She continued, "My beloved child, you will always be our first daughter and our precious Yuna. We will never forget you and will keep living with you in our hearts."

She went on to say, "When we meet again someday, I will run to you and give you a big hug, and give you all the love I could not before. I love you."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.