Heartbreaking story on 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire': My father backed out of donating his kidney at the last minute

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, hosted by Oktay Kaynarca, returned to screens last night with a new episode. The story of the contestant named Ceren Koç, who participated in the program, became a trending topic on social media.

21-year-old contestant Ceren Koç explained that her education was interrupted due to the illness she suffered. The contestant, who learned that she had lost 80 percent of her kidney function, stated that she met her father during her time in the hospital when she was 20 years old. Koç said, "I am waiting for an organ transplant. I am currently in the dialysis process. I was actually going to have the transplant, I had the opportunity, but my transplant was canceled on the day of the surgery."

Stating that she learned about her illness quite late, the contestant said, "I went to the hospital with complaints of high blood pressure and severe headaches before school started. Suddenly, I learned that I had lost 80 percent of my kidneys. Immediate hospitalization, medications, surgeries... Such an adventure began. During that process, because my mother was left helpless on her own, she needed someone's help. She contacted him so that he wouldn't leave us alone," she said.

'HE NEVER WANTED TO MEET EITHER'

Explaining that she met her father during the hospital processes and saying that she had never seen him before, Koç used the following expressions: "I had never seen him. We weren't in contact. He has another family. He never wanted to meet anyway."

To Kaynarca's question, "Did he see having another family as a reason?", she replied, "He most likely saw it that way. I was living with my grandmother and mother at that time until I was old enough to understand."

Ceren Koç, who said she lived with her mother and grandmother as a child, responded to Kaynarca's question, "Didn't you ever ask your mother and grandmother about your father?" as follows:

'MY MOTHER WAS ENOUGH FOR ME'

"When I was little, of course. Emotional moments would happen on Father's Day. One would feel the lack from time to time, but I had learned to be happy with my mother and grandmother. That's why I never questioned it. Because my mother was enough for me. Externally, I never questioned it. I always questioned it inside, but I didn't feel the need. Because my mother never made me feel his absence. That's why, until I came to the hospital and even after coming to the hospital, I couldn't accept it at that moment, but the fear of death that the illness brings... Who am I standing up against? That's why I thought there is no one I cannot forgive. I forgave him then too."

Koç explained that during her illness, after her mother informed her father about her condition, her father had tests done to see if he was a match for a kidney transplant and agreed to donate his kidney.

'MY FATHER BACKED OUT OF DONATING HIS KIDNEY AT THE LAST MINUTE'

Koç later said, "He backed out of donating his kidney at the last minute. After accepting that he wouldn't donate, I never felt sad for myself."

Stating that she learned her father, who was a match, had backed out on the day of the transplant and that she was not sad about the transplant itself, Koç said, "My mother was not a tissue match; there was a blood type incompatibility. That's why I was more saddened by my mother being left helpless. I didn't feel sad for myself. Despite everything, life is very beautiful. At least there is an opportunity like dialysis," she said.

The contestant also explained why she participated in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire with these words:

'LIFE IS ONE DAY, AND THAT DAY IS TODAY'

"I always used to tell my mother that I would go when I turned 18. My mother tried very hard to convince me, though. After my illness, I started living with the concept of 'life is very short, I must make the most of every moment. Life is one day, and that day is today.' That's why I wanted to apply, and I did. The important thing is to sit here. I didn't come here with a material expectation. The fear that the illness gave me was enough for me. That's why I want to enjoy every moment I live and collect memories for myself."

Oktay Kaynarca also said, "You never know what life will bring or take away. Looking at things correctly always starts to change many things after a while. Let's hope for good things, I hope good things will happen," he said.