16-year-old Cypriot becomes part of a unique chain involving four kidney transplants

A 16-year-old resident of Cyprus found herself at the center of a unique international kidney transplant programme that saved the lives of four people.

The operations took place at Israel’s Beilinson Hospital with the participation of the Israel National Transplant Center. The medical marathon lasted more than 12 hours, and the chain of donors and recipients included Jews, Muslims and Christians.

The chain was initiated by a 52-year-old Israeli man, who altruistically donated one of his kidneys to a 16-year-old girl from Cyprus. The teenager’s mother was unable to donate to her daughter because of incompatibility, but her kidney was a match for another patient. Her husband then became a donor for another patient, and his wife completed the chain by donating a kidney to a fourth person.

According to the Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom, the operation was postponed twice. On one occasion, this happened on the day the family was due to fly to Israel, following the outbreak of an armed conflict with Iran.

All four patients have already been discharged from hospital. Dr Eviatar Nesher, head of the transplant department, called the joint work between Cyprus and Israel one of the most striking examples of medical diplomacy.