Mum donates organs of 14-yr-old boy declared brain dead after school run collapse

SINGAPORE: A 14-year-old boy, Isaac Loo Xuan Zheng (卢宣正), collapsed suddenly while running during a physical fitness test at Woodlands Secondary School.

Despite being rushed to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Isaac was confirmed brain-dead three weeks later. In a heart-wrenching decision, his mother chose to donate his organs, giving at least three people a chance at a new life.

According to Chinese media outlet Lianhe Zaobao, Isaac, a Secondary 2 student, collapsed during the 2.4-kilometer run on the morning of 2 May.

He was immediately taken to the hospital, where he fell into a deep coma for over three weeks.

During this time, his mother, Mdm Soo Yen Foon, 52, stayed by his bedside, providing constant care and hoping for a miracle. Unfortunately, on May 25th, doctors confirmed that Isaac was brain-dead.

Mdm Soo, in an interview with Lianhe Zaobao, described her devastation upon hearing the news. She never imagined that her usual morning farewell at the school gate would be their last.

“Doctors said that Isaac might have experienced a heart arrhythmia due to the intense exercise, causing him to lose consciousness.”

“We have no family history of such conditions, and Isaac never complained about any heart discomfort. The incident was very sudden,” she explained.

Faced with the difficult decision of organ donation, Mdm Soo recalled that her son’s biggest dream was to help others. Learning that over 400 patients were waiting for organ transplants, she decided to fulfil Isaac’s wish.

“Thinking from my child’s perspective, I called the organ donation coordinator the next day to inform them of my decision,” she said.

The transplant surgery was completed on 26 May, with Isaac’s corneas, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and skin benefiting at least three patients.

Under the Human Organ Transplant Act, organ retrieval can only occur after the person has been certified as brain dead.

Mdm Soo and her late husband, originally from Malaysia, are permanent residents of Singapore.

They brought Isaac to Singapore in 2017 for his education. Her husband passed away from liver cancer in 2022, and Mdm Soo recently fell victim to a malware scam, losing all the insurance money and savings left by her husband.

She expressed gratitude for the support from friends and family during these challenging times.

Woodlands Secondary School Principal Mrs Tay Yang Fern told Zaobao that the school conducted an internal review to ensure adherence to safety protocols following the incident.

All students must warm up and undergo health assessments before participating in physical activities. The school has been supporting Isaac’s family and will continue to provide assistance to his friends and classmates.

Issac’s funeral wake will be held at Block 754A, Woodlands Circle until 30 May 2024.

His cortège will leave for Mandai Crematorium, Service Hall 01, on Thursday morning, with the cremation scheduled to take place at 11:25 a.m.