Israeli and Cypriot Surgeons Unite for Kidney Transplant Marathon

Israeli and Cypriot doctors came together for an unprecedented day-long marathon of kidney transplants. On Monday, five Israelis and three Cypriots received life-saving kidney transplants, marking a significant achievement in cross-border medical collaboration.

This intricate chain of surgeries was coordinated through the Israel National Transplant Center, led by Dr. Tamar Ashkenazi. "In Israel, there’s a higher likelihood of donor-recipient incompatibility due to shared genetics among the population," Ashkenazi explained. To overcome this challenge, Israel has agreements with several countries, including Cyprus, Austria, the Czech Republic, and the United Arab Emirates, allowing these nations to share data on potential donors and recipients.

Whenever a compatible match is found across borders, the transplant process begins. Monday’s marathon of surgeries began when an Israeli patient at Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva received a kidney from a woman in Cyprus. Simultaneously, the Cypriot donor’s husband in Nicosia was given a kidney from an Israeli man. The Israeli man's wife also received a kidney from an altruistic donor a selfless individual who donates an organ not for family, but simply to save a life.

Thanks to the efficient coordination of international efforts, the transplants were possible even though none of the donors could give directly to their loved ones. In total, eight transplants were completed, all without the donors and recipients ever meeting.

The collaboration extended even further when two additional kidneys were discovered in Cyprus. These organs were flown to Israel, where they were transplanted into two more patients at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem. At the same time, a man and woman in Nicosia General Hospital also received transplants, marking the successful completion of the second part of the chain.

An extraordinary individual, 45-year-old Yaara Ashhar Shir from Jerusalem, played a crucial role in this achievement as an altruistic kidney donor. Shir comes from a family of kidney donors — her father, brother, and cousin had all donated before her. Tragically, her cousin, Naaran Ashhar, was killed in November 2023 after donating his kidney earlier that year.

Moved by his sacrifice, Shir felt the time was right for her to contribute. "It is important to me that those who contemplate this idea understand it is practical and possible," Shir said, adding that her decision to donate was as clear to her as her partner’s service in Israel’s reserve forces.

Dr. Ashkenazi confirmed that all eight transplant recipients are recovering well, thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the Israeli and Cypriot medical teams. This kidney transplant marathon demonstrates the power of cooperation in medicine, where borders and politics take a backseat to the shared goal of saving lives.

This is yet another example of Israel’s dedication to advancing life-saving medical practices through collaboration. If you were inspired by this story, share it with others or subscribe to our newsletter for more uplifting news from Israel.