After a long waiting period, FIrst Lady Nechama Rivlin received a lung from 19-year-old Yair Yechezkel Halbali, whose family donated his organs after he drowned.
First Lady Nechama Rivlin underwent a single lung transplant at Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah, outside Tel Aviv, on Monday.
Rivlin, 73, had been suffering from pulmonary fibrosis for several years. The transplant took place after a long period of waiting.
The lifesaving organ belonged to 19-year-old Yair Yechezkel Halbali, whose family donated his organs after he drowned in an accident in Eilat, Ynet reported.
A month ago, a lung from a different donor had become available, according to Ynet, but it was deemed unsuitable at the beginning of the transplant procedure.
A day after the operation, an emotional meeting at the hospital took place between President Reuven and Nechama Rivlin and the Halbali family, Ynet said.
The First Lady is recovering and in stable condition.