A Second Chance: 9-Year-Old Receives Life-Saving Altruistic Kidney Donation at Schneider Children's

Shuli, a 50-year-old resident of Kiryat Ye'arim, is a musician and bridal counselor who has long been familiar with the challenges of living with kidney disease. Both her grandmother and aunt struggled with severe kidney conditions. As a child, Shuli accompanied her grandmother to dialysis treatments, experiencing the pain and hardship firsthand until her grandmother's passing. When her aunt became a kidney transplant candidate 25 years ago, Shuli desperately wanted to donate her kidney but was not a match. Despite this, her determination to donate never waned.

Two years ago, Shuli was inspired by a friend whose husband had donated a kidney, motivating her to initiate the process through "Matnat Chaim" (Gift of Life) organization. She came close to fulfilling her dream, though her first attempt to donate was canceled at the last moment. Soon after, she learned about a new candidate in urgent need of a transplant: 9-year-old Shirel.

"I was told about a young girl who was about to start dialysis because no donor had been found for her," said Shuli. "The joy of being able to give life, especially to a child, is indescribable. I feel as though I am the one who received the gift."

According to Dr. Hadas Alfandary, a senior nephrologist at Schneider Children's Medical Center, "Shirel's story is deeply moving and brings us back to her uncle's story, who also underwent a kidney transplant at Schneider Children's. The family has a hereditary kidney condition that has progressively worsened, bringing Shirel to the brink of dialysis. After it was determined that her mother was not a suitable donor, a race against time began to find an alternative match. We are profoundly grateful to the donor for providing Shirel with this life-saving gift. We are pleased to report that Shirel is recovering well and feeling much better."

Shirel's mother, Elinor, expressed her gratitude: "The incredible donor gave us an extraordinary and selfless gift for which we will forever be thankful. I also want to extend my deepest gratitude to the wonderful team at Schneider Children's, who cared for Shirel with exceptional professionalism and dedication."