‘Hindi namin talagang pwedeng baliin ‘yun’: Family grants wife’s last wish to donate organs after being declared brain dead

A nurse in Lipa, Batangas received a “hero walk” after she donated her organs just days after she was declared brain dead.

According to her husband, Randy Paran, his wife Cathy, repeatedly mentioned her plans on donating her organs when death comes.

“Sa akin, ‘yung bilin niya matagal na eh. Mga ilang years na. Talagang sinasabi niya sa akin, na may card siya, magdo-donate siya. Tapos, sabi nga niya, huwag siyang i-revive ‘pag siya ‘yung dinala sa hospital. Hindi namin talagang pwedeng baliin ‘yun,” he told The Philippine STAR.

Cathy’s eldest daughter, Kate, also recalled her conversation with her mom about organ donation.

“Just before nung nangyari, doon ko lang nakita ‘yung phone niya kasi meron parang card doon. Parang ‘I am [an] organ donor.’ Doon ko lang siya nakita. Tapos tinanong ko pa siya,” she said.

Nurse Cathy’s close friend and former workmate, Yanna Viñas, also shared a memory of Nurse Cathy proudly sharing that she signed up to be an organ donor.

“Umuwi ako nung January dahil may sakit yung father ko. Tapos siya ‘yung tumutulong sa akin. Tapos araw-araw magkasama kami noon. ‘Yung card na ‘yun, araw-araw tuwing magkasama kami, pinapakita niya sa akin. Tapos pinapaliwanag niya na nag-register ako sa Hope. Gusto ko i-donate lahat na pwede kong i-donate,” Yanna said.

“Sabi niya, kahit anong pwedeng mapakinabangan sa akin, ido-donate ko. Pero hindi ko siya masyadong binigyan ng pansin kasi parang ayokong pag-usapan that time. Nung nangyari ‘yun, nung nakita ko ‘yung card ulit, doon na lahat nag-make sense. Kasi January lang ‘yun eh, nung parang may mga binibilin siya sa akin parang, “ah kaya pala niya ‘yung sinabi lahat sa akin that time,” she added.

Nurse Cathy first underwent angioplasty in November 2024 but later recovered. She then travelled to Australia to visit Kate and have a vacation when another health emergency happened in February 2025.

“Magla-lunch na kami noon na sumasakit lang ulo niya. Nagpasama siya sa CR. Nung pagbalik niya, medyo bagsak na ‘yung kalahati niyang katawan, kamay,” Randy narrated.

They immediately brought Cathy to the hospital where the doctors confirmed that she had experienced a stroke.

“Nung nangyari ‘yun, naka-video call ako sa kanila, narinig ko din nung sinabi ng doktor na, ‘We need to operate her as soon as possible.’ Kasi nga malaki ‘yung bleeding [sa brain]. Bumalik ‘yung doktor, wala pang five minutes, sinabi we can’t do anything anymore, parang end stage na. Doon na siya na-declare as brain dead,” Yanna recalled.

The family did not think twice but pushed through with the decision of Cathy to donate her able organs.

“Hindi namin talagang pwedeng baliin ‘yun. Kinabukasan, nakapunta agad ‘yung dalawa kong anak. Noong following day na ‘yun, humingi ulit akong favor sa kanila na ma-extend naman kahit isang gabi kasi para makasama nung dalawa. And kinabukasan, ‘yung walk of honor na tradition sa mga nagdo-donate,” Randy said.

Yanna noted, “Up until her last breath, wala siyang sinayang na oras.”

Cathy was able to donate five organs: liver, kidneys, lungs, heart valve and cornea.

“Sa lahat ng ginawa ng asawa ko, proud na proud talaga ako. Hindi ko talaga maipaliwanag kung gaano kalaki ang [kanyang] puso. Doon kami proud na proud. Parang kahit masakit, ramdam namin ‘yung maibibigay pa niya sa madaming tao,” he said.

The hospital notified their family that patients had already received the organs as they expressed gratitude to the heroic kindness of Cathy.

“Parang talagang nakalinya na. Hindi mo talaga maitatanggi na gustong-gusto niya makatulong. Sa lahat sa kanila, sana maramdaman n’yo ‘yung pagmamahal ng asawa ko,” he added.