23-Year-Old Battles Lupus and Four Heart Surgeries While Seeking Kidney
At 23, Ramat Gan resident Tzidka battles lupus, four heart surgeries, and dialysis while pursuing her television career. She now seeks a compatible kidney donor to rebuild her life.
At just 23 years old, Tzidka of Ramat Gan has endured four open-heart surgeries, years of nightly dialysis, and a severe battle with lupus. Despite a grueling medical regimen, she fiercely maintained a demanding career in television until a recent infection forced a temporary halt to her routine.
Diagnosis and Deterioration
Diagnosed with lupus at the age of 15, Tzidka initially did not grasp the full severity of the autoimmune condition. The reality of the disease struck hard at age 19, just before her brother's wedding, when severe cardiac dysfunction and dangerously high blood pressure landed her in intensive care for a month and a half.
Over the following years, her heart function continued to deteriorate, leading to four consecutive open-heart surgeries. Ahead of the fourth procedure, which was complicated by blood clots around her heart, she confessed to her sister the crushing emotional and physical weight of the ordeal.
Balancing Career and Dialysis
For nearly two years, Tzidka balanced a demanding career in television production with ten-hour nightly home dialysis sessions in her Ramat Gan apartment. She viewed her work and independence as a vital triumph over an illness that continually tested her physical limits, refusing to let the disease dictate her entire identity.
However, a recent abdominal infection forced doctors to remove her dialysis catheter, transitioning her from home care to hospital-based dialysis four times a week. Though currently on sick leave, she remains eager to return to her professional routine and active social life once her medical parameters stabilize.
The Search for a Kidney Donor
To achieve full recovery, Tzidka is actively searching for a compatible kidney donor. While a transplant will not cure lupus—which has remained dormant for the past year and a half—it will eliminate the need for dialysis and restore her physical strength.
Following a social media appeal that brought nearly 90 potential sign-ups, she continues her search for a precise match due to her rare blood type and antibodies. Reflecting on the profound impact a donor would have on her future, she shared:
"He is not just going to save lives, he is going to help me build them. To find a relationship, to start a family, to finally build the career I want so badly."
