Multinational kidney transplant chain saves four lives in Israel

A 16-year-old girl from Cyprus, identified as Fotini, underwent a successful kidney transplant at Beilinson Hospital in Israel following a complex medical chain involving four donors and four recipients. The operation, which lasted over 12 hours from 5:00 am to 7:00 pm, involved participants from Christian, Muslim, and Jewish backgrounds. The cycle began with 52-year-old Israeli donor Asaf Mor donating a kidney to Fotini. Although the girl's mother was not a match for her daughter, she donated her own kidney to a 27-year-old Arab-Israeli woman. The chain continued as the husband of the 27-year-old woman donated a kidney to another Arab-Israeli man, whose wife completed the cycle by donating to a fourth patient. The procedure followed two previous postponements for the teenager, one of which was due to the regional conflict with Iran. All eight patients involved are reported to be in good health and have been discharged. The initiative was coordinated through the collaboration between Beilinson Hospital and the Israel National Transplant Center.