Between loss and hope — the choice that saves lives | Dvora Sherer

There are decisions that are made in seconds and affect entire lives. The decision to donate organs is one of them. On August 13, Organ Donation Day is marked around the world — a day that reminds us all that behind every successful transplant stands a human, brave, and noble decision of one family, who chose to save lives even in their most difficult moment.

For many years, in my role as spokesperson for the National Transplant Center at the Ministry of Health, I have had the privilege of being exposed to countless extraordinary human stories. Stories of deep pain alongside great hope, of unimaginable loss alongside life given as a gift. These are stories that are woven thanks to brave families, dedicated transplant coordinators, professional medical teams, and people who choose to turn loss into meaning.

Behind every organ transplant, there are actually two families. One is dealing with the loss of a loved one, and the other is waiting for the phone call that might save their life. These two worlds meet in one moment — thanks to a family's decision to say "yes" to organ donation. Throughout the years, there were moments I will never forget. Conversations with parents who asked to know who the people were that received their children's organs. Thank you letters from recipients who told how they were able to see their children grow up thanks to the transplant. And one sentence, which repeats again and again from the mouths of the donors' family members, is etched in my heart: "We could not save the one we loved, but we were able to save others." In this sentence lies the deepest meaning of organ donation — the ability to grow life out of the greatest heartbreak.

In the last year, perhaps more than ever, we have been exposed to the power of mutual responsibility in Israeli society. Families of children, young people, adults, and soldiers chose in moments of unimaginable pain to give others a chance at life. Thanks to them, children returned to school, parents returned to hug their children, and grandparents were able to see their grandchildren grow up. Behind every transplant hides a story of nobility of spirit, love of humanity, and hope. But alongside the success stories, there is also a difficult reality. Hundreds of women, men, and children in Israel are waiting for an organ transplant. For them, every day is a struggle. Some are connected to dialysis, others are waiting for a heart, liver, or lungs. For all of them, the phone call from the National Transplant Center is the greatest hope.

World Organ Donation Day is not just a day of awareness. It is a day of responsibility. Signing an Adi card is much more than signing a form. It is a declaration of mutual responsibility, of accountability, and of choosing life. No less important is to talk to family members and share the decision with them. At the moment of truth, when they know that this was their loved one's wish, it is easier for them to respect their choice.

Organ donation is perhaps the most human and noble act. It is impossible to manufacture an organ in a factory, purchase it with money, or import it from abroad. Life is granted only thanks to people who choose to give it to others. Every time I hear the news about a successful transplant, I know that behind it there is both great pain and a great victory of the human spirit. This is the moment when mutual responsibility stops being a concept — and becomes life.

Ahead of World Organ Donation Day, I call on each and every one of you: sign an Adi card, share your decision with your family members, and let them know what your wish is. It is possible that one day, this very decision, which will be made today in peace, will be the greatest hope of another family. Because there is no greater legacy than to give life. This is the only gift that can continue to beat even when our heart has already ceased to beat.

Dvora Sherer is the spokesperson for the National Transplant Center at the Ministry of Health.