There is no way in the world I can be thankful enough for my new kidney.
There is no greater satisfaction, I gave a new life!
We are thrilled and proud to announce that a short time ago Minister of Education Yoav Kish phoned Rachel Heber, Chair of Matnat Chaim, and informed her that she will be awarded the Israel Prize for Lifetime Achievement on Israel’s Independence Day next month. Rachel Heber has asked to dedicate this award to all our… Read more »
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On Tuesday, January 10, 2023, a fire broke out in Matnat Chaim’s offices. The fire was caused by an electrical fault, and completely destroyed the offices in Jerusalem. There were no casualties, nor was there any data loss, but the building, infrastructure, equipment and furniture were severely damaged. The office is currently uninhabitable and we… Read more »
Read moreThe chances of a kidney donor needing a transplant are practically zero. The reason is that someone who has been approved as a donor undergoes extensive testing to ensure that he is in good health and does not suffer from any condition which may lead to renal disease.
In addition, it is known that almost all diseases which cause kidney failure affect both kidneys equally. In other words, a person having both kidneys will not be at any advantage over a person having only one if he develops diabetes or hypertension or a virus or receives some defective medication.
After an initial period of recuperation, you can gradually return to any type of physical activity with no restrictions, even extreme sports or any other strenuous activity. There are many kidney donors who are employed in strenuous jobs such as in agriculture or that require carrying heavy loads. There are many donors who run the marathon and engage in other challenging sports. During the first month of recuperation, it must be stressed, one should refrain from lifting more than five kilo.
Many people, including doctors, would say: “In order to donate one!”. Of course, no organ is “extra”, God forbid. Many people require two kidneys to remain healthy. There is, however, a large population which can remain healthy with one kidney, as is proven by many research studies and our own experience. Suitable testing is required to determine who belongs to each group.
Kidney donors can fast like anyone else after one year has passed. During the first year, one must always drink a lot. There are conflicting opinions among the doctors. Some experts say after three months, while others say half a year. The strictest opinion is to avoid fasting for one year. Consult your local rabbi for a halachic ruling in this matter. (This matter is treated extensively elsewhere on this site.)
Matnat Chaim is an Israeli non-profit that recruits and supports healthy volunteers who donate kidneys to patients who require a transplant. Our kidney donors receive no monetary compensation for their donation and the recipients do not pay for their transplants. All kidney donations are done on a voluntary and altruistic basis; the sole motivation of the organization and the kidney donors is the desire to help others and save lives.
MATNAT CHAIM® is a registered trademark of the Matnat Chaim association.