Parents of Noam Naor donate his organs so “fewer children undergo dialysis treatments”

3-year-old Noam Naor

A tragic incident involving a young Israeli boy has offered a life-changing opportunity for the family of Yakoub Ibhisad, a ten-year-old Palestinian who has been treated with dialysis at Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center for the last seven years.

Eleven days ago, when three-year-old Noam Naor was pronounced clinically dead after falling out of a fourth floor window, his parents made the difficult decision to donate his organs in a bid to help other patients in need.

After tissue tests were run through the national list, one kidney was given to an Israeli child, and the other went on to save the life of Yakoub Ibhisad.

Doctors deemed the operation, carried out on Sunday at the Schneider children’s ward at Petah Tikva’s Beilinson Hospital, a success. The father of Yakoub thanked the Naor family for giving his son a new life “after years of waiting.”

“Knowing I saved a life gives me great comfort and the power to go on,” said Noam’s mother, Sarit. “It was not an easy choice, but today I am happy that I made it. It doesn’t matter that it’s a Palestinian boy; I wish it would bring us peace.”

“It doesn’t matter who gets the kidneys, so long as fewer children need to undergo dialysis treatments,” said Noam’s father.

Israeli President Shimon Peres called the act “one of the most moving contributions to peace. It shatters all prejudices.”

“In my eyes, Noam’s parents are noble and an inspiration to us all,” added Israel’s Health Minister, Yael German. “At the hardest moment of their life, they made a difficult decision that their son’s death would bequeath life to a Palestinian child.”

She went on to call their donation “a source of pride and an example of humanity and kindness.”