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Cpl. Yaniv Pozoarik
Photo: Yaron Brener
Yaniv's father Yafim Pozoarik
Photo: Yaron Brener

Salim receives heart of Cpl. killed in accidental shooting

Heart of IDF combat soldier killed by friend's misfire transplanted in heart disease patient. Bereaved father weeps but says 'Yaniv would be proud'

Nineteen-year-old Cpl. Yaniv Pozoarik was critically injured on Tuesday after his comrade accidentally shot him in the neck, and succumbed to his wounds Wednesday evening. In an unforeseen and noble gesture, his family has donated the Pozoarik's heart to 25-year old Salim Louai. Louai was diagnosed with a terminal heart disease, but thanks to Pozoarik's family, has been given another chance to live.

 

After sustaining massive artery damage in his neck and head from a misfired bullet, Pozoarik was evacuated to Rambam Hospital in Haifa, where a team of doctors, including former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's doctor, attempted to repair the damage. However, their efforts were unsuccessful, and the team was forced to declare brain death.

 

Pozoarik's family was asked to donate his organs. In an interview with Ynet the victim's father, Yafim Pozoarik recounted: "We never spoke of it at home, but at the hospital, when we realized his brain had died and there was nothing else left to be done, we decided to donate."

 

'Part of him is still alive'

"If Yaniv was here, he would be proud," the father added tearfully. "He loved to help people and I believe that if he was asked, he would have wanted to help. I feel that part of him is still alive."

 

The heart transplant took place Thursday morning at Chaim Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer. "It doesn't matter who received the organs, only how many people were saved thanks to Yaniv," said the father. "Saving lives is the most important thing here, and I hope the people saved are half as fine as Yaniv was."

 

Salim Louai, receiver of Yaniv's heart, began to suffer from shortness of breath and weariness some months ago. He was diagnosed with a cardiovascular disease, for which the only treatment was a transplant. Until he received Yaniv's heart, he was kept alive by an artificial heart.

 

Louai's brother Ta'ar told Ynet on Thursday that Salim "anticipated the arrival of a new heart every day. When he found out he was very excited, and was not afraid of the operation." Louai's family waited impatiently outside of the operating room on Thursday. "The operation lasted six hours, which seemed like a year to me," Ta'ar recounted. "But finally we got him back with a new heart."

 


פרסום ראשון: 03.27.08, 20:08
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