00:00Albert Gunaratnam, Malaysia's longest surviving heart transplant recipient, whose life became
00:07a symbol of hope and medical progress, has died aged 76.
00:12He became the country's second heart transplant recipient on Good Friday, April 10, 1998,
00:18receiving a heart from a 22-year-old athlete who tragically lost his life in a motorcycle
00:24accident.
00:25Although doctors initially hoped Albert's heart transplant would extend his life by
00:29a few years, he defied all odds, living an incredible 26 years and nine months.
00:35Dr. Azmi Ghazi, IJN's Clinical Director of Heart Failure and Heart Transplant, who cared
00:41for Albert over the past 15 years, said Albert lived an active life, proving that transplant
00:47recipients can thrive and contribute meaningfully to society.
00:51Albert used his second chance to raise awareness about organ donation, sharing his story to
00:56highlight how his donor's selfless act transformed his life and brought joy to his loved ones.
01:02Albert's daughter, Jacinta, shared that her father often expressed deep gratitude for
01:07his transplant, which gave him the chance to witness life's precious milestones, birthdays,
01:12graduations, her and her sister Cynthia's weddings, and cherished moments with his four
01:17grandchildren.
01:18Amid Malaysia's critical heart donor shortage, Albert's journey serves as both an inspiration
01:24and a call to action, highlighting the need to break barriers, dispel misconceptions,
01:29and foster a culture of organ donation.
01:32The wake service will be held from 8 to 9 at 220 Jalan Kajang Perdana 2-13, Taman Kajang
01:38Perdana, and the funeral mass will be at 10am tomorrow at Tamil Methodist Church, Jalan
01:43Sultan Abdul Samad Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur.
Comments