Two Young Girls Receive Life-Saving Organ Transplants in Israel

Two young girls, a 5-year-old from the Jerusalem area and a 6-year-old from northern Israel, have been given a new lease on life following complex organ transplant surgeries at Schneider Children's Medical Center. The younger girl underwent a liver transplant due to a rare liver disease, while the older girl received a lung transplant. Both surgeries were made possible by the decision of donor families to donate organs during their time of loss.

The 5-year-old girl, who suffered from a rare liver condition, had her life-saving liver transplant led by Dr. Michael Gurevich, head of the liver transplant unit at Schneider, and Dr. Vladimir Tank, deputy head of transplantation at Beilinson Medical Center. Following the procedure, she was transferred to the intensive care unit at Schneider, under the care of Professor Elhanan Nahum. The girl's mother expressed profound gratitude to the donor family, stating, "In the darkest moment, you chose to give life." She also hoped for her daughter's healthy and happy future and advocated for awareness regarding living liver donation.

Simultaneously, the 6-year-old girl from northern Israel underwent a lung transplant. This surgery was performed by Dr. Yuri Pesakhovitch, head of thoracic surgery at Beilinson, and Dr. Gabi Amir, director of pediatric cardiac surgery at Schneider, along with medical teams from both hospitals. Dr. Eyal Jacobi, coordinator of pediatric lung transplants at Schneider, is overseeing her post-operative care. She is currently recovering in the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit.

Organ transplantation in children is a highly complex medical procedure requiring precise matching between donor and recipient, multidisciplinary medical teams, and intensive follow-up care. Schneider Children's Medical Center is a leading institution in Israel for pediatric organ transplants. In 2025, the center performed 42 organ transplants for infants, children, and adolescents, including 15 liver transplants, 26 kidney transplants, and one heart-lung transplant. The hospital also conducted a transplant marathon in April 2026, where four children received organ transplants in under 24 hours. While the medical journey for these two girls continues, their successful surgeries represent a powerful intersection of loss and hope, enabled by the altruistic act of organ donation.