A 13-year-old boy born with a genetic disease that weakens the cardiac muscle underwent a successful heart transplant last week -- four years after his brother with the same metabolic disorder received a new heart as well.
Dani, from the Druse village of Hurfeish in the north, needed the transplant urgently, as his life was in danger. The family were very experienced with the disease and the repercussions, as in 2011, their older son Rani had a transplant at the same hospital -- the Schneider Children’s Medical Center in Petah Tikva.
Both sons had been treated at the hospitals cardiology institute headed by Dr. Einat Birk. The operation on Dani was performed by Dr. Gabi Amir, Prof. Dan Aravot, Prof. Benny Medallion, Dr. Ya’acov Katz and Dr. Eli Simchi. The boy is recovering well in the coronary intensive care unit in the children’s hospital.
The majority of children’s organ transplants in the country are performed at the Petah Tikva medical center. Since its founding, 500 transplants of hearts, lungs, livers and kidneys have been performed in babies, children and teenagers at a success rate equal to those in leading centers abroad.