Talk To Hoong Ling

Let's hear from Hoong Ling personally, her story, aspiration and her wishes! Let's help her make it!
(This is a collection of answers to many questions people ask me when I spoke to them about my story)

I am just walking the talk

I have been promoting organ donation and spread awareness in this topic since school days. As I signed the organ pledge form at age 13, it came across my mind to do it (donate organs) even when I am alive. Look, I have been talking for years now so I am just walking the talk! For me, I have touched only one life by saving one person's life but for many people, they think I have touched more lives by having an inspiring story to tell.

Organ Donation - the cause in my blood

Somehow, I read a booklet from the Buddhist Association at age 13 and fell in love with the topic. Particularly, an article by a monk on "Joy of Giving" inspired me to pledge my organs at that time. Since then, I found out that not many people know about organ donation so I would like to champion the cause.

It was in this liver transplant that I found out I only have one kidney - I am born with it! Friends jokingly said that I must have donated a kidney in my last life therefore making me having such enthusiasm in organ donation! Organ donation is in my blood.

I got more than a just Mercedes scar

After the surgery, I got to know people's opinions, understand people's reaction to this topic, regain my family (I will explain in my book), many gifts, even a RM10,000 cheque and friendship with many new friends. I even jokingly asked why didn't Mercedes give me a real Mercedes car so I can be its permanent marketer - it's tatooed on my abdomen!

Look, when doctor told me that I would bear the scar, I did expect a C-class scar. As nurses opened the wounds, alas, I found a S-class! WOW!

A few more steps further

Sometimes I thought that awareness alone is enough. Now more people are aware of organ transplants and possibility of donating one's organs but I found out that many people do not know how to pledge organs or simply do not take the action to sign the pledge forms. Now that I walked my talk, I am prepared to share this story to inspire people to ACT upon it - pick up a pen and sign the pledge form!

Book it, Inspire People to ACT

I am writing a book and the production of the book is on its way with the help of an entrepreneur with the heart of gold, Anas Zubedy. Many friends came forward to offer assistance, too. I am blessed with many people who would help me champion this cause.

First phase will be to sell the book - it contains my story, frequently asked questions on organ donation and also a couple of forms and organ donor cards attached. The most important part of the book is the third part - where people will lift a pen and sign the pledge form. It is not my story nor could it be the questions and answers in the book which could do the trick. It is about YOU - someone who care, someone who could think beyond death and could part with organs in your body in the name of life saving.

The Malay saying goes, "Harimau mati meninggalkan belang, Manusia mati meninggalkan nama" (Tiger will part but leaving its stripes, human being dies leaving his name), I'd like to call on people to die leaving their organs on earth to continue serving. Leave them on earth, heaven knows we need it here!

Second phase - Spread it - I am willing to go around!

I wish I can do this. I want to talk to you and your friends so everyone could pledge their organs. I am willing to go around to speak on my story if it inspires more people to pledge their organs. God willing, I could just quit my job and go around for one full year speaking to as many groups as possible to encourage more people to pledge their organs. If I have this chance, I will work my butts off speaking till my voice could stand no more, reaching as many people possible and getting people to ACT on the spot.

Look, we can't just see people die everyday because of our selfishness and ego. Can these attitudes be brought to the coffin? Come on, pledging means you donate organs after death. What else are there left on earth, your selfishness and ego? We can't continue to see number of patients in the waiting lists increase day by day. Do you know that innocent people die because they were killed so their organs can be harvested for sale? Poor people have to trade organs even when they are alive just because there are just not enough organs. And we can't just sit there reading books... it will not work! When there are people wanting to hear from me, I will go and I want to make sure I have people pledging their organs or else I am going for nothing. So, I have a "sales target" - targeting more people pledging their organs!

Third phase - YOU can inspire people, too!

I will include in my plan, a website to inspire action on organ donation. More to it, I hope to engage help of graphic designers who would design banners, buntings, posters and brochures which organisations can download to print when they organise campaigns. I will plan on a template where people can organise organ donation campaigns easily by following just what to do. The website can be interactive, meaning people can communicate, ask questions and get answers.

I am not an expert nor am I a doctor so if there are questions that I could not answer, I will get experts in this field and post answers on the website.

If I have all the time...

I am not Buddha. I still want to be a multi millionaire and my goal is RM16 million cash, I want a big house and of course a Mercedes, too (why not?). So, I really work very hard and I strongly believe I could achieve things I want. Yet, contrary to many beliefs that you can only do good or contribute to community when you are truly rich, I do it now while I have yet to reach riches in material wealth. But I am rich - I have a rich life, a rich story to tell and a heart filled with gold.

If I have all the time and not to worry about working from 9 to 6, I want to meet people, talk to people and inspire them to pledge their organs. I want to attend seminars on organ transplantation, learn from other countries how they inspire people and work on the protection of organ donors.

I want to save lives

I want organs being harvested from a dead person and it was because of my story inspiring him one way or another to donate organs after death. I want to save lives. Let us all do it together. Lift up a pen and pledge your organs today!

Quotes

Don't think of organ donations as giving up part of yourself to keep a total stranger alive. It's really a total stranger giving up almost all of themselves to keep part of you alive.
~ Author Unknown

Organ donors are heroes, and I think of my hero each day!
~ Betty, Lung Recipient

I want to save lives. Let us all do it together. Lift up a pen and pledge your organs today!
~ Hoong Ling

I must say you (Hoong Ling) were the one who gave me the courage to sign the organ donation form. Both my husband and parents respected my decision in doing that. Thanks for their understanding and I told them it was my wish to help those in need to save their lives after my death.
~ Shirley Lim