Ortall Looper Faces Urgent Liver Re-Transplantation After 15 Years

Ortall Looper, a 48-year-old mother of three from Nahariya, is urgently awaiting a second liver transplant in the United States after her transplanted liver, which saved her life 15 years ago, began to fail. She suffers from advanced liver failure, severe jaundice, and hepatic encephalopathy, which causes confusion, memory loss, disorientation, and hand tremors. Weighing only 52 kilograms, she is unable to perform basic daily tasks, drive, or work, and requires constant assistance due to the risk of sudden attacks caused by rising ammonia levels in her blood.

Her liver disease was first diagnosed at age 18. After years of monitoring, her condition worsened following pregnancy and childbirth in 2008. In 2011, her liver collapsed, and after no suitable donor was found in Israel, she was flown to the Mayo Clinic in the U.S. for a life-saving transplant. Remarkably, in 2013, she became the first woman in Israel and one of the few worldwide to give birth after a liver transplant. She later had a third child.

Her health deteriorated further during the recent conflict, and due to complications including vascular issues, she requires another transplant. The family received approval for funding from Israel’s Ministry of Health and Clalit Health Services, covering surgery and hospitalization but not ancillary expenses such as accommodation, food, and travel. Ortall’s husband, Amit, who has served over 700 days in reserve duty since October 2023, is preparing to accompany her to the U.S., while their children remain in Nahariya with their grandmother.

The family launched a crowdfunding campaign initially targeting 250,000 shekels to cover initial costs, quickly surpassing this goal and raising over 315,000 shekels by the morning of the report. They have since increased the target to 500,000 shekels. Amit expressed gratitude for the support and emphasized the ongoing financial and emotional challenges they face. Ortall also thanked donors for their generosity during these difficult times.