"Please Remember the Child the World Never Knew"... Son with Epilepsy Saves 4 Lives Like a Miracle

Born in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, in 1991, In-hu was the eldest son of his family.

Unusually quiet compared to other babies, In-hu began showing abnormal symptoms around 7 months of age.

[Yang Young-hee / Mother: He started having seizures from 7 months old. He had seizures where his arms and legs curled inward.]

The hospital diagnosis was epilepsy.

Moving between various hospitals in Seoul and Jeollabuk-do, he tried numerous medications, but side effects always followed.

Still, on warm days, he spent precious childhood days doing outdoor activities wearing a brace.

However, the family's small happiness did not last long.

[Yang Young-hee / Mother: When he was 22, he developed severe pneumonia. That's when he had to undergo tracheal intubation. After that, my child became bedridden.]

His mother cared for her son without a single moment of rest.

[Yang Young-hee / Mother: It was a situation where I always had to stay by his side. I don't think I've ever slept continuously for more than two hours at night.]

Though tracheal intubation took away even his laughter, the mother and son found their own way of communication.

[Yang Young-hee / Mother: When falling asleep, he would reach out his hand as if asking to hold hands. When I firmly held it, he would look at me and smile like that. He smiled without making a sound. In-hu's body temperature was very warm.]

After fighting the illness for over 10 years, In-hu suddenly showed symptoms of breathing difficulty on a summer night last June.

[Yang Young-hee / Mother: I was giving him a stomach massage when I happened to notice that In-hu's complexion didn't look good. His face was turning grape-colored.]

Panicking, she performed CPR and called 119, but his breathing did not easily return.

When he was rushed to the hospital, he began breathing again, but his consciousness never returned.

The medical staff declared In-hu brain-dead and recommended organ donation.

[Yang Young-hee / Mother: He was a child who took medication for over 30 years, so I wondered if any of my child's organs would be usable. But my heart kept leaning toward doing it. The biggest reason was knowing that In-hu would still exist somewhere.]

Thanks to the family's utmost care, In-hu's organs were healthy, and by donating his heart, liver, and kidneys, he presented new lives to four people.

After parting with her son, the mother agreed to an interview and explained the reason why:

[Yang Young-hee / Mother: He was a child whose name was only listed on the resident registration, a child who only stayed inside the house. So I think I wanted to tell the world that In-hu existed, that "our In-hu came and went like this."]

(Reported by Kim Jiuk | Video by Lee Da-in | Graphics by Yook Do-hyun | Produced by SBS Digital News | Footage courtesy of Korea Organ Donation Agency)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.