Bahrain, Jun 20 (Gulf Daily News):  A FILIPINO mother fulfilled her dying wish by donating her organs to save the lives of three patients, it has emerged.

Teresita Polo Corral had been in a brain-dead state at Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) for a week until her family agreed to switch off her life support machine on Friday night.

The 59-year-old housemaid was earlier admitted to the Intensive Care Unit after suffering a stroke.

A relative, who declined to be named, yesterday said it was Ms Corral's dying wish to have her organs donated after her death, which she had instructed in her will.

Originally from Manila, she came to Bahrain four years ago and is survived by her husband and a son, who both live in the Philippines, and two daughters, who live and work in Bahrain.

"She was admitted to SMC after suffering a stroke and was brain dead in ICU for a week," said the relative. "We are now arranging to repatriate her body to the Philippines.

"She was really a good mother and I am really proud of her.

"We, as a family, were always talking and sitting together for meals and we always knew what she wanted.

"We are going to miss her a lot."

Ms Corral's kidneys were transplanted into two Bahraini men, one in his 40s and another in his 50s, at SMC during a 13-hour operation.

The surgical team, led by SMC consultant vascular and renal transplant surgeon Dr Sadiq Abdulla, finished the procedure at 9am yesterday. Both patients, who were suffering from final stage kidney failure, were said to be recovering well.

Ms Corral's liver was also used to help a patient in Saudi Arabia - the first time the organ has been harvested from a donor in Bahrain for a recipient abroad.

The Philippine Embassy confirmed the case but declined to comment.

"What Ms Corral did is a good deed and we are proud of her," said a spokesman.

"But the family has strictly asked to keep the matter private.