Israeli lecturer donates part of liver to save critically ill Arab baby

An Israeli computer science lecturer has donated part of her liver to save the life of an eight-month-old Arab baby after carrying a decades-long wish to help another family avoid the loss she experienced as a child.

Dr Talia Eden, 39, a researcher and lecturer at Bar-Ilan University, underwent surgery earlier this month to donate part of her liver to Bissan, a baby from Jerusalem born with a rare liver condition that had developed into life-threatening liver failure.

Doctors had reportedly warned Bissan’s family that without an urgent transplant, she would not survive. Neither of her parents nor any of the other close relatives were found to be suitable donors.

For Eden, the decision carried deep personal significance. Her father died from Hepatitis C while waiting for a liver transplant, something she said had stayed with her for years.

According to Clalit-Schneider Children’s Medical Centre, Eden first approached Israel’s National Transplant Centre in her twenties hoping to become an altruistic liver donor, but was advised she was too young and should wait until after having children.

Despite building an academic career, raising a family and spending time in the United States for postdoctoral research, she continued pursuing the idea over the years.

Several potential donations reportedly fell through before she received confirmation that surgery could go ahead.

Two days before the transplant, Eden was told that the recipient would be Bissan. At the time, she was travelling to the airport for a work trip when doctors informed her that the baby’s condition was rapidly worsening. She immediately turned around and asked for the surgery to be brought forward.

The six-hour transplant operation was carried out at Clalit-Schneider Children’s Medical Centre under the leadership of Dr Michael Gurevich, director of the hospital’s liver transplant units.

Last week, Eden met Bissan and her family for the first time following the surgery.

Bissan’s mother, Omima, said: “After it became clear that neither my husband nor I could donate to her, I was overwhelmed with fear. I was terrified of watching my daughter suffer before my eyes without being able to help her.

“When I received the news that a suitable donor had been found, I felt enormous relief and great joy. It brought hope after a very difficult period. Suddenly, I felt there was a real chance for my daughter.”

Eden said: “To see the little girl recovering after the surgery and to know I had a part in it, there is no greater feeling. Truly, whoever saves one life saves an entire world.

“This feeling burned inside me all these years, the feeling that I could not save my father, but maybe I could do it for someone else. It is an incredible sense of fulfilment, a complete circle. I think my father would have been proud of me.”

Dr Gurevich said many people were unaware that living liver donation was possible because the liver is capable of regenerating itself.

He added: “Just now, on the eve of the Shavuot holiday, we performed another altruistic liver transplant for a second child, the second such transplant in only five days. This is an unusual and extraordinary event, since these procedures are rare, especially in such close succession.”

The hospital said both children are continuing to recover under close medical supervision.