By Anonymous Muslim Woman

My mother received a liver transplant after years of her health gradually deteriorating – she became very, very sick with fatty liver which eventually turned to end stages of liver cirrhosis. The journey to her transplant surgery was years long and incredibly difficult.

We prayed for an organ match, and searched for family donors too, but nothing worked until she was absolutely bed ridden on her deathbed.

We prayed for an organ match, and searched for family donors too, but nothing worked until she was absolutely bed ridden on her deathbed. At this point, my brother and I - with the help of our extended family - were looking after her. She was on a waiting list for an organ donation and we got the call twice telling us a match was available.

The first plan for an organ transplant surgery was scrapped due to last minute issues, but it was the second occasion that she was able to follow through with the transplant surgery which took over 7 hours. She subsequently underwent another 5 hour surgery in the days following the first surgery to rectify an internal issue.

It then took my mother another two years for her body to settle, and those initial first few months were crucial in ensuring her body accepted the new organ. The road to recovery was long and scary too, but thankfully it all went well.

My mother and our entire family are so grateful everyday for the kind soul who made the decision to donate their organ. Although we do not know who the donor was, my entire family prays for that person and their family every single day. I am certain they saved many other lives. We are so blessed that we get to watch my mum do the normal things in life like cooking a meal, going out for walks and helping care for her grandchildren - all because she was able to get the transplant surgery.

I know people will have different views, especially many Muslims who opt for alternative perspectives, but to me I see it as the ultimate form of sadqa jaria.

It made me rethink the concept of donation, and I personally have now registered as an organ donor knowing first-hand what it means for those on the receiving end. I know people will have different views, especially many Muslims who opt for alternative perspectives, but to me I see it as the ultimate form of sadqa jaria. It’s truly the gift of life and we chose to waste it if we don’t donate, in my opinion. So, to anyone who discourages organ donation, I ask the question if they truly would refuse an organ donation in the face of certain death of themselves or a family member.

During this journey, I have met many people and families in and out the hospital. I have seen people who have chosen to be live donors to strangers as well as family members and people who have received full organ donations, not knowing who the donor was. I have also met people who are in contact with families of deceased who made the choice to donate.

One thing for certain is that those who have received an organ donation are grateful beyond belief for the gift of life given to them and they carry on the legacy of organ donation. I hope that the day I pass, I am also able to help a number of other people change their lives too.