In a surgery performed in early 1/2026, medical specialists retrieved the heart, liver, and two kidneys from the deceased to transplant into patients suffering from end-stage organ failure. Currently, all four recipients are recovering well, with the transplanted organs functioning stably in their new bodies.

The tragedy unfolded in late 12/2025 when a severe traffic accident left the family's eldest son brain-dead. Before his son was taken to the operating room, the disabled father, who had lost a leg, spent his final moments by the bedside saying goodbye. The 25-year-old had been the family's primary breadwinner, having left school in 9th grade to work and support his ailing parents and two younger siblings.

The father weeps while bidding farewell to his son. Photo: Loc Chung.

"Wake up and come home with your dad, son, you've been asleep for 7 days," the father murmured softly, his voice choked with emotion, as he held his son's hand one last time. In this moment of profound grief, the family chose to honor the young man's wish to help others by donating his organs for medical use.

"My son may no longer be with us, but by donating his organs to save others, he will still exist somewhere in this world," he shared.

The success of these multi-organ transplants underscores Vietnam's growing stature in regional medical science. Associate Professor, Doctor Duong Duc Hung, Director of Viet Duc Hospital, remarked, "Vietnamese medicine has made remarkable strides. From previously only approaching the level of developing nations, many of our specialized techniques now rival those in the world's most advanced medical countries."

At Viet Duc Hospital, doctors now complete a liver transplant in just 6-7 hours, halving the time previously required. In 2025 alone, the hospital recorded 25 organ donations from brain-dead individuals, the highest number to date. "This demonstrates a significant shift in community awareness regarding organ donation to save lives," Hung stated.

The national organ transplant network has expanded to 30 centers licensed by the Ministry of Health. With over 9,500 successful transplants, Vietnam leads Southeast Asia in the number of organ transplants performed and is the only country in the region to maintain over 1,000 cases annually since 2022.

However, the supply of organs from brain-dead donors remains the biggest "bottleneck," as the actual demand for treatment is still very high. To address this, the Ministry of Health is developing a project to amend the Law on Donation of Human Tissues and Body Parts. The completion of this legal framework is expected to remove barriers, offering a chance at life for thousands of patients awaiting transplants on the national waiting list.

Le Nga