Recording of dead daughter's heartbeat brings parents to tears

​PENANG - The Malaysian parents of Carmen Mark, an 18-year-old nursing student who died in Singapore from an arterial rupture in her brain two years ago, on Friday (Sept 15) got to hear their daughter's heartbeat again.

It was an emotional moment for Carmen's father, Mr Mark Kok Wah, 46, and his wife Ariess Tan, 43, when they were presented with a recording of Carmen's heart beating in the chest of Singaporean Serene Lee.

Carmen's organs had been donated after she died, and her heart had gone to Ms Lee, 37, who was suffering heart failure at the time.

​Ms Tan, a financial consultant, broke down in tears, while Mr Mark, a specialist construction applicator, said: "I always knew Carmen was still alive."

Ms Lee, 37, a heart failure patient, had received Carmen's heart after the Nanyang Polytechnic student died suddenly on July 28 in 2015. Carmen's parents gave their consent for her organs to be donated under Singapore's Medical (Therapy, Education and Research) Act. Her heart, liver, kidneys and pancreas went to four patients.

Ariess Tan (left) meeting Serene Lee, the recipient of her daughter's heart, for the first time. 

Recently, on Aug 4, soon after Carmen's second death anniversary, Ms Lee got in touch with Mr Mark on Facebook after seeing his posts about wanting to hear his daughter's heartbeat again. She introduced herself and asked if she could visit him and his wife in Penang where they lived, saying she would bring a stethoscope with her to fulfil his wish.

Although the name of the donor is kept anonymous, Ms Lee, who works part time as a clinic assistant, had connected the dots and tracked the couple down after reading about Carmen's death.

Earlier this week, The Straits Times reported about the upcoming reunion between Ms Lee and Carmen's parents, which will take place on Friday afternoon.

​Photographs of Carmen Mark line the console tables in her parents' home in Penang. 

Following the report, medical devices company Cobs came forward to offer both parties the use of an electronic stethoscope, which is able to record a person's heartbeat. The recorded file would be a good keepsake for Carmen's parents, said a Cobs representative, as it could be sent via an e-mail or instant message to a variety of devices, such as on a computer or smartphone.

​Ms Tan, who broke down in tears when she heard the recording, said: "Even though my time with her was not long, only about six years, she was one of the kindest and most friendly people I know." Ms Tan had married Mr Mark about six years ago. Carmen's biological mother had left the family when Carmen was about three years old.

Ms Tan shared how Carmen, their only child, had asked a friend to keep her company before she went to Singapore to study nursing on a scholarship.

"This shows that even though she was not physically here with us, she still thought about me and wanted to keep me from being bored," said Ms Tan.

Ms Lee's heartbeat was recorded at her home on Tuesday, and presented to Carmen's parents on Friday morning, ahead of Ms Lee's arrival.

Thank you cards from recipients. 

Even though Carmen has been dead for two years, her presence is still felt in her parents' home in Taman Hutchings in Penang, Malaysia. Her favourite pair of shoes - a pale green pair of Toms slip-ons - lies neatly outside the door. Carmen's ukelele, as well as photographs of her smiling with friends and family, still line the console tables.

​Carmen Marks' favourite pair of shoes outside her parents' home in Penang.

At the invitation of the Marks, Ms Lee will be staying in Carmen's room over the weekend.

​Mr Mark said about the reunion before it started: "I'm a little kanchiong (worried). But I've always believed that Carmen is still alive, although in other people's bodies. I am sad, but I am looking forward to seeing Serene, and being able to hear Carmen's heartbeat again. That has been something I was hoping for for the past two years."

Ms Lee said she was very anxious before meeting the Marks at the reunion, which was also media briefing attended by Penang executive councillor Phee Boon Poh. Since Ms Lee reached out to the Marks, a chat group comprising the three was set up. She refers to them as "Daddy Mark" and "Mummy Ariess".

When she finally met Ms Tan on Friday, both started tearing and hugged each other.

Ms Lee also met Carmen's maternal and paternal grandmothers. Carmen's paternal grandmother had initially objected to the donation of her. But after meeting Ms Lee, she told her: "Thank you."