"I Was So Happy You Were My Mom": 55-Year-Old Woman Who Collapsed During Trip Saves Three Lives

A 55-year-old woman who suddenly collapsed with breathing difficulties while traveling in Vietnam with her daughter has saved three lives through organ donation.

According to the Korea Organ Donation Agency (KODA), Koo Jin-hee, 55, passed away after donating her liver and kidneys to three patients at Kosin University Gospel Hospital on September 18.

While traveling in Vietnam with her daughter on September 12, Koo suddenly experienced breathing difficulties and collapsed due to a cerebral hemorrhage.

Although she was rushed to a local hospital, she did not regain consciousness and was transferred to a hospital in South Korea, where she ultimately failed to recover and was pronounced brain dead.

Following the deceased's philosophy to "help others and exert a positive influence," her bereaved family decided to proceed with organ donation.

Born in Seoul, Koo was diagnosed with idiopathic thrombocytopenia during her pregnancy in 2001.

Because her condition did not respond well to treatment, she had to endure repeated hospitalizations over the span of 25 years.

However, even amidst her illness, Koo always put her family and those around her before herself.

After moving to Busan in 2015 following her husband's job relocation, she participated in a faith group at her husband's workplace, supporting employees and their families during difficult times.

Whenever her health stabilized, traveling with her family was one of her greatest joys. Her husband, an airline pilot, frequently arranged trips so she could forget her pain and enjoy herself.

Alongside traveling, what filled Koo's life the most were her two daughters.

Koo experienced great joy in August when she held her first grandchild, born to her eldest daughter, JISOO, and she had been preparing for the upcoming wedding of her younger daughter, Kim Ji-won, scheduled for next year.

Her two daughters expressed how deeply they feel the absence of their mother, who will no longer be by their side to watch her grandchild grow up or attend the wedding.

[JISOO / Eldest daughter of the late Koo Jin-hee: "Mom waited so much for her grandchild and loved babies so much, so it would have been wonderful if we could have had more time together."]

Her husband, Mr. Kim, shared his final farewell, saying, "Honey, it has been 33 years since I met you, and I will cherish all the happy times we spent together. Rest in peace now in a place without pain, with no worries."

Her eldest daughter, JISOO, also vowed, "I will live on by thinking, 'What would Mom have done?' and carry on her values," while her younger daughter, Kim Ji-won, expressed her profound affection, saying, "I was so happy that you were my mom."

[Kim Ji-won / Younger daughter of the late Koo Jin-hee: "You must have suffered a lot because of your difficult illness, but thank you so much for raising us so well. We will build beautiful families and live hard until we meet again."]

(Photo courtesy of: Korea Organ Donation Agency)
Reported by Jung Da-eun | Video by Lee Da-in | Design by Lee Jung-joo | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.