Avraham Shalem, Atniel
Donor No. 1,170
I remember I was at my parents’ house on Shabbat in 2017 (early 2017) and I read a brochure about kidney donation. The topic immediately captured my heart. To me, it sounds amazing to give an organ from your body to another person and change his life, when you return to a normal life. There is no deal to save a life that is worth it. More than this deal.
I decided I wanted to look into the matter seriously. The challenge that immediately faced me was the fear of needles, but I realized that in God’s time I would be able to overcome the fear. My dear wife gave me a “green light” and then I contacted “Mitanat Haim” and began the process. I was in great anticipation and really looking forward to it. Unfortunately, I received Answer that I cannot donate because blood was found in the urine test and altruists are not authorized to donate in such a situation.
I was really disappointed, and I still tried to insist but without success. I was left sore and felt that I had really missed out on a dream come true.
About two and a half years passed, and one day my mother called me and told me that my uncle was sick and his kidneys were not functioning. Mom asked if I knew how to contact “Gift of Life”. I told my mother how to get in touch and I also told her that if there is a possibility I am ready to start the whole process over and be a candidate to donate.
That’s really what happened. I started a new process at Tel Hashomer, which was not easy either. We had to make a cross and for a long time they did not find a suitable candidate for my uncle. Later he was sick and unfit for surgery and also contracted the corona virus and was really weakened by it. I also had problems with the weight issue and you had to lose weight to fit.
At the end of the day, the Merciful God sorted things out and my uncle returned to a condition where he was able to withstand the surgery and I met all the requirements of his donor. I was also privileged to actually fulfill a double dream, both to give the donation to a person I don’t know and also to make it so that my uncle receives the donation and returns to a normal life, he and his family members.
The nurse from ‘Tel Hashomer’ connected us to “Menat Haim”. The escort was amazing and exciting, really a bunch of good-hearted people with a desire to help in any way possible.