Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva reached a historic milestone this week. The Jerusalem Post reports that Israel’s 1,000th successful lung transplant was made possible by an IDF soldier, reservist Master Sgt. Asael Babad, who died on January 22 and donated all of his organs. The recipient of his lungs was 53-year-old Amram Hazan, who suffers from advanced chronic lung disease.
Hazan, a father of nine, said he is “breathing on my own again” and thanked the donor family and medical teams for saving his life. He said his condition had worsened, and the family prayed he would become the 1,000th recipient, adding that the call for surgery came as his wife left the Baba Sali hilula.
Babad’s family said he “always felt a divine mission to do good for the people of Israel,” adding that donating his organs was “the right thing to do” and expressing hope that the milestone signals many more lifesaving transplants to come.
The hospital said the milestone reflects round-the-clock work by surgeons, anesthesiologists, transplant coordinators, operating room nurses, blood bank and transport staff, tissue-typing laboratory teams, and heart-lunch machine operators. Rabin Medical Center performs the vast majority of Israel’s lung transplants and is the only medical center in the country that performs all types of organ transplants, the hospital said.
Rabin Medical Center has also been on the front line of Israel’s medical response to crises, including caring for many of the returning hostages. With its 1,000th successful lung transplant, the hospital is now considered among the top transplant centers in the world.
“The ability to reach out and save lives in moments of profound tragedy is testimony to the power of giving and mutual responsibility,” said Rabin Medical Center CEO Dr. Erez Barenboim.