'Noble, extraordinary act': Seven-year-old receives life-saving transplant from fallen IDF soldier

A seven-year-old girl received a life-saving liver transplant last month from a fallen IDF soldier, Sergeant First Class Shahar Gamla, who was killed while deployed in Lebanon.

Gamla was critically wounded by an explosive drone in Lebanon and passed away from his injuries in June.

After his death, Gamla’s family made the decision to donate his organs, ultimately saving a total of six lives, including that of young Bel Finkelstein, who was born with a rare genetic congenital syndrome and had been waiting desperately on the organ transplant list for six months.

The procedure took place at Rambam Health Care Campus, where a lobe of Shahar’s liver was harvested and immediately transported to Clalit-Schneider. There, a surgical team performed an intensive, hours-long transplant operation. 

Following the successful surgery, Finkelstein was transferred to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, where she received care until her recent discharge home.

'A noble and extraordinary act'

Before leaving the hospital, Gamla’s family visited both her and her parents at Clalit-Schneider.

"I have no words to adequately thank Shahar’s precious parents, who, from the absolute depths of their bereavement, chose to grant life to my daughter," said Yana, Bel Finkelstein’s mother. "It is such a noble and extraordinary act."

Dr. Michael Gurevich, Head of the Liver Transplantation Unit at Clalit-Schneider, commented, "This is an extraordinarily complex and difficult emotional situation, even for us in the operating room. It is hard to put into words the thoughts and feelings during an event like this."

"I am profoundly grateful to the family for their noble decision to donate his organs. The realization that this soldier saved lives both in his duty and in his passing weighs heavily on our hearts. We are deeply thankful for the privilege granted to us to save human lives." He added.