A 14-year-old boy, identified by his surname Lu, collapsed suddenly during a 2.4km physical fitness test at Woodlands Secondary School on May 2 around
A 14-year-old boy, identified by his surname Lu, collapsed suddenly during a 2.4km physical fitness test at Woodlands Secondary School on May 2 around 8 a.m. He was rushed to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, but after falling into a coma, Lu was hospitalized for nearly three weeks. Throughout this period, his mother remained by his bedside, holding onto hope. Tragically, on May 25, Lu was declared brain-dead.
Lu’s mother, Ms. Su, shared with Lianhe Zaobao that the doctors suspected an undetected irregular heartbeat was the cause. “It happened so quickly; Lu had never mentioned any heart discomfort,” she recalled.
Although grieving deeply, Su remembered Lu’s frequent desire to help others, a sentiment he had shared with her many times. This memory motivated her to donate his organs, despite the difficulty of the decision. “Thinking from my son’s perspective, I decided to fulfill his wish,” she said.
On May 26, the hospital informed Su that her son’s corneas, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and skin were able to help save or improve the lives of at least three patients. Close friends and family gathered to bid Lu farewell, singing hymns as he was taken into surgery.
The family has endured significant loss. Lu’s father passed away from liver cancer in 2022, and Su suffered a devastating financial loss in a malware scam last October, depleting her late husband’s savings. Despite these hardships, Su expressed gratitude for the support of family and friends who have helped her build resilience.
The principal of Woodlands Secondary School confirmed that an internal review was conducted to ensure safety protocols were followed. The school has provided support to Lu’s family and classmates and visited them regularly during this difficult time.
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