Man’s corneas donated after fatal crash
IPOH: A phone call in the wee hours quickly turned into a family’s worst nightmare.
Despite that, the family of 45-year-old Lau Han Han chose to honour his life by giving the gift of sight to others.
Recounting the ordeal on Feb 23, Lau’s younger sister Ai Lan, 42, said he had been involved in a car crash in Sitiawan.
She said witnesses claimed he lost control of the vehicle which then hit a tomb at a graveyard.
“We were at home when we received a call from his friend at 1.41am informing us of the accident.
“We rushed to Hospital Manjung but he was pronounced dead at 2.06am by the doctors,” she said when contacted.
Ai Lan, who runs a coffeeshop, said in the aftermath of the tragedy, the family agonised over a difficult question – whether to donate her brother’s organs as suggested by a close relative.
“It was a difficult time but we decided to do something good for him. If his organs can help others, we wanted to proceed,” she said.
However, due to time constraints, only his corneas could be donated, said Ai Lan.
She said the family took comfort in the thought that her brother will be remembered for helping other live longer.
“I registered myself as an organ donor several years ago. As for my children, I will let them make their own decision,” she said of her sons, aged 23 and 21.
Ai Lan said her parents were still grieving her brother’s death.
“But life has to go on, and despite the deep sorrow of losing their only son, they found a small measure of comfort in knowing that his passing was not in vain.
“In the midst of their grief, they made the decision to donate his corneas, allowing others the precious gift of sight,” she said.
