KOTA KINABALU: The family of the late Cospermas Gugkang was unaware of his intention to donate his organs upon death but was glad they did after learning belatedly that they had helped fulfil his wish.
His family agreed to donate his corneas to two patients urgently in need of these after the 38-year-old went into a coma on Jan 6 and was declared brain dead the next day.
His sister, Carolyn, 43, who related this, said the doctors then asked if the family was willing to donate his healthy organs to help save lives.
“After discussing among the family, we decided to go ahead with it. We felt that it would not only save lives but a part of him would still be alive,” she said.
Cospermas, she said, had not mentioned anything about organ donation but they later found out from his friends that he had, in fact, told them of his intention.
“So in a way, I think we made the right decision and it seems like his undisclosed wish is fulfilled,” she said.
She added that Cospermas, the fourth of six siblings, had suffered a brain haemorrhage.
Carolyn said the doctors had asked if the family would donate Cospermas' liver and kidneys, too, but said the procedure would be longer.
The doctors told the family that his body would have to be kept longer in the intensive care unit (ICU) while waiting for the specialists to arrive from Peninsular Malaysia.
“But since many of our family members had already arrived upon hearing of his death and were waiting at home, we did not want to make them wait any longer to pay their last respects,” she said.
In the end, they only managed to donate his corneas as there was a ready specialist to harvest the organs.
The family, however, did feel sorry that they were not able to donate his liver and kidneys as well to benefit patients in need, Carolyn added.
Cospermas, a bachelor who quit his job to care for his parents, was buried on Jan 10.
He had been the primary caregiver to their 63-year-old mother after their father passed away two years ago.
Carolyn said Cospermas was also the primary caregiver to their partially paralysed father who had suffered a stroke as well.
“Now, our other siblings take turns caring for our mother. She is still in deep shock and grief,” she said.
She said their last family gathering was during Christmas and on New Year’s Eve recently.
“I am glad we had that one last family gathering with Cospermas."
Carolyn hopes the story of her brother’s organ donation would encourage more people to sign up as organ donors, so that more people could have a second chance in life.
Earlier this week, the Sabah Health Department issued a statement thanking the family for this organ donation while the Hospital Queen Elizabeth ophthalmology team here, which successfully harvested his corneas, stood in a moment of silence in tribute to Cospermas.
