She shed 70 kg to save her husband – and was asked to donate the kidney to a stranger
Rinat Kara underwent an incredible transformation, losing 70 kilograms to become a kidney donor for her husband, Meir. At the last moment, doctors offered the couple a chance to participate in a cross-donation program.
To save the life of her husband, Meir, who has suffered from diabetes since age 12 and needed a kidney transplant, Rinat Kara was willing to do anything. However, when she wanted to donate her kidney to him, a major obstacle stood in her way. "I weighed 130 kilograms," she shares in an interview with "HaOlam HaBoker".
During a meeting with Dr. Aviatar Nesher, she was given a blunt ultimatum:
"He looked at me and said, 'Dear, go do something with yourself first, and then check if you can even donate to Meir.'"
With extraordinary determination, Rinat embarked on a two-year journey. Through medical support and sheer willpower, she shed 70 kilograms, becoming fully eligible for the procedure.
After passing all medical committees, Rinat was confirmed as a 100% match for Meir. Yet, just two weeks before the scheduled surgery, the hospital proposed a surprising alternative: a cross-donation.
"They asked me not to donate to Meir, but to donate to a stranger," Rinat recalls. "They promised me: if you donate to a stranger, we will ensure my husband gets a kidney from another donor."
The decision rested with Meir. Any hesitation vanished after a fateful call from the transplant coordinator:
"There was a person the coordinator told me about: 'Meir, listen, there is someone who has been waiting 16 years for a kidney.'"
That was enough for Meir. He agreed immediately, turning their personal sacrifice into a wider circle of giving that saved not only his own life but that of another person as well.
Following their decision, a complex medical operation involving four simultaneous surgeries was performed. The procedure was a success: Meir received the kidney he needed, and Rinat saved the life of a stranger. According to the couple, the process did not end with physical recovery, but led to a heartwarming development: a lasting human connection between the donors and recipients involved in the story.
