The successful collaboration between Cyprus, Greece, and Israel in organ transplants has once again been demonstrated in practice. Five people were given a second chance by a young Cypriot woman who lost her life in a car accident and donated her organs. The first transplant, a heart transplant, was performed on a 45-year-old woman in Israel, who had been on the waiting list for about two years. The procedure was successfully completed at Beilinson Hospital.
“After obtaining consent, we assessed which organs could be donated for transplantation. As a result, we collaborated with Israel to secure the heart donation; the heart was ultimately received, and the transplant proceeded.” Chrystalla Despoti, Organ Donation Coordinator, Nicosia General Hospital
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“Behind such a procedure lies a long chain of people and decisions. Every hour was critical, and flawless coordination was required between hospitals, airports, customs, and medical teams in both countries.” Dr. Tamar Askenazi – Director of the National Transplant Center
Four medical teams worked simultaneously at Nicosia General Hospital to harvest the organs, supported by the hospital’s healthcare professionals to ensure the procedure’s success. In addition to the heart, which was received by the Israeli medical team, a team from Onassis Hospital in Athens received the lungs, and a team from Hippocrates Hospital in Thessaloniki the liver.
“All teams that accept an organ to proceed with its transplantation come here to Nicosia General Hospital, which is the only center licensed by the Ministry of Health to harvest organsfrom deceased organ donors. It is a major surgical procedure in which all these teams participate.” Chrystalla Despoti, Organ Donation Coordinator, Nicosia General Hospital
All the transplants were successful in Israel and Greece, and the recipients are in good health. The same goes for the two Cypriots who received the two kidneys.
“The kidney recipients are Cypriot patients who were in the end stage of kidney failure, and the transplant was certainly a lifesaving gift for them. We express our gratitude and respect to this family, as well as to every family that, despite the difficult times they are going through, the loss of a loved one, to think of their fellow human beings and to choose to offer and donate organs.” Chrystalla Despoti, Organ Donation Coordinator, Nicosia General Hospital
Through transnational agreements on transplants, many Cypriots are benefiting and getting a fresh start.
Watch the report by Nasia Ioannou
