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Once upon a time, Israel was among the countries with the lowest rate of kidney transplants. Today, Israel is the country with the highest percentage of altruistic kidney donations in the world. Here is a powerful example of such selflessness.
"God has given me so much all my life that I wanted to save the life of someone else," says Nehemia*, a father of six in his 30s. His wife's grandfather suffered from kidney disease for 10 years and wasn’t eligible for a transplant. "I've seen the disease close up.”
Nehemia turned to the volunteer organization Matnat Chaim (to save a life), which is responsible for the increase in altruistic donations. Donors have to pass stringent tests, both psychological and physical. Nehemia passed the psychological test and was surprised and disappointed that he failed the physical. His blood pressure was too high.
Instead of giving up, he strengthened his resolve.
To improve his results, Nehemia altered his diet, reduced his sodium intake and swam regularly. He said, "One morning, I took my son for a blood test and asked the nurse to check my blood pressure. It came out 120. I immediately called up Matnat Chaim and told them my blood pressure was excellent."
The process of approval took nine months.
Shmuel* is a man in his 70s who learned only two and a half years earlier that he had kidney disease. None of his close family was a match. He, too, turned to Matnat Chaim.
Separately, the potential donor and recipient met with the transplant coordinator at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem.
It was a match.
The two men only met after the successful surgery.
"I felt great when I saw him," Nehemia said. "I dreamt of giving my kidney to someone older who still has so much love and wisdom to share with his family, his children and the rest of the world.”
Shmuel was overwhelmed to meet the man who changed his life. "I can't begin to express what it feels like to meet him," he said.
Both donor and recipient praised the professional and compassionate care they received at Hadassah Ein Kerem. “From top to bottom, the care is wonderful,” said Shmuel.
"At Hadassah, the staff is amazing. Every patient gets special attention,” Nehemia said. “I thanked the doctor, too, for giving me the privilege of saving a life. It was lifechanging for me, too.”
*The names have been changed for privacy.
