A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH

 

Life and death battles don’t figure only in wars. People all over the world are battling the COVID virus. Conversely, people battling a chronic disease are facing a life or death situation, against much greater odds.

Since dialysis is a temporary solution, people suffering from kidney failure are faced with no other alternative but a kidney implant.  

The kidney’s main task is to filter toxins and remove excess water from the bloodstream. Healthy people have four to five times the kidney capacity needed for this. Even with one remaining kidney, there is still plenty of spare function and one can live a perfectly normal life.

An organisation called “Matnat Chaim” “The Gift of Life” was established in 2009 by Rabbi Yeshayahou Haver who himself was the recipient of a kidney donated by a friend. He was prompted from witnessing tragic situations - such as the death from kidney failure of a young 15 year old boy, whose older soldier brother was killed by terrorists. They were the only sons.

From a family of six brothers, three suffered from kidney disease. Recently, two of the brothers were found kidney donors at the same time and the successful operations were scheduled just two days apart. Before they were scheduled to take place, the eldest brother died of kidney failure. Every incident is part of a sad human story.

The “Gift of Life” is an organisation in Israel that is dedicated to encouraging individuals found suitable for making a life-saving kidney donation. It focuses exclusively on altruistic, i.e. voluntary donations. The organization functions on a not-for-profit basis. The sole motive that drives the volunteers of the organization is the desire and willingness to help others and save lives.

Anyone in need of a kidney usually receives it through the “Gift of Life” organization. Rabbi Haber himself had been very close to death at the time that a suitable donor was found. He knew from personal experience what it means to suffer time-consuming and agony of dialysis for any length of time, and took a personal interest in every patient who appealed to his organization.

The number of live kidney transplants performed per year in Israel has almost tripled since 2010. The vast majority of that growth is coming from the religious Jewish population, who are working towards promoting similar faith-based initiatives in other countries.  

Israel has the largest number of kidney transplant volunteers in the world! The “Gift of Life’s” vision is to eliminate the waiting lists for kidney donations, and to ensure that whoever needs a transplant in Israel will not have long to wait.