Comfort, company

The coordinator's job is more about heart-to-heart communication as they are always dealing with bereaved families. In addition to persuading relatives to agree to the donation and witnessing the removal of the organs, coordinators have to provide comfort and company. Moreover, they often help the family members arrange the funeral.

"There was a time when I began to wonder if I was right for this job. Yet the hope that donation brings to patients over and over again keeps me going and makes me understand the meaning of my work," Cao said.

She also helps train new coordinators, explains their working philosophy and promotes organ donation. She and her colleagues also explore ways to help soothe the pain of loss.

Cao recalled a letter she received from a child. The girl said that initially she felt that her father had abandoned her, her mother and her brother. Later, Red Cross volunteers visited the family and told the girl that her father's donated organs had helped save three people. As a result, she was extremely proud of her father.

"I think another important thing is to let the donor's family truly feel the significance of organ donation, as well as the warmth and respect of society during the donation process," Cao said.

Contact the writer at yangzekun@chinadaily.com.cn