"Not good. Waiting for a liver,” Ortal Laufer said Wednesday morning in an interview with the ynet studio. The difficulty was evident in her slow voice and in the effort it took her to speak. Fifteen years after a liver transplant saved her life, the transplanted liver is failing, and she urgently needs a second transplant in the United States.
Laufer, 48, from Nahariya and the mother of three children ages 18, 13 and 9, is now dealing with advanced liver failure. She weighs just 52 kilograms, or about 115 pounds, suffers from severe jaundice and hepatic encephalopathy, a condition caused by the buildup of toxins in the blood that can lead to confusion, memory impairment, disorientation and hand tremors.
“First of all, it is terrible weakness and an inability to function,” she said. “It means not functioning as a mother and not functioning as a human being. There is no ability to leave the house. There is a lot of confusion and a lot of disorientation. As you can hear, my voice is very slow. It is mainly not being a mother, and that is the hardest thing for me.”
She said she can no longer drive, work or perform basic daily tasks. “I can’t cook, clean or do grocery shopping. I need people’s help all the time, because I can’t be left alone. At any moment, I can have an attack because of the ammonia rising in my blood. And that is only the tip of the iceberg.”
Ortal’s liver disease was discovered when she was 18. For years, she was under medical supervision and continued with her life. She studied special education, married Amit and, in 2008, gave birth to their eldest daughter, Noam. The pregnancy and birth led to a deterioration in her condition, but her liver stabilized for several years.
In June 2011, Ortal’s story was reported by ynet after her liver collapsed and she was hospitalized in serious condition. Doctors estimated at the time that, without a transplant, she had only a few weeks to live. After no suitable liver was found for her in Israel, she was flown to the United States and underwent a lifesaving transplant at the Mayo Clinic.
Two years later, in July 2013, ynet reported another extraordinary chapter in her story: Ortal gave birth to her second daughter, Ofri, becoming the first woman in Israel and one of the few in the world to give birth after a liver transplant. The couple later had another child.
She is the first woman in Israel and one of the few in the world to give birth after a liver transplant
(Photo: Courtesy)
Now, the liver transplanted into her body in 2011 is failing. According to the family, Ortal’s condition deteriorated throughout the war, and she needs another transplant because of her complex condition, which also includes a vascular complication. Because of the medical complexity and the shortage of suitable organs in Israel, the transplant is expected to take place again at the Mayo Clinic.
Her husband, Amit, 49, was interviewed by the studio at the same time from the Gaza border area after being called up once again for reserve duty. Since October 2023, he has served more than 700 days under an emergency reserve call-up order. At the start of his remarks, he asked to address their daughter Ofri.
“I want to wish my daughter, who is listening to us now, a happy birthday. Her birthday was yesterday and I wasn’t there. I apologize,” he said.
He said that, alongside his reserve service, the family has had to cope with the continuing deterioration in Ortal’s condition. “Throughout all the days of the war, her health kept deteriorating,” he said. “The current situation is that there is really no choice but to travel and transplant a new liver in the United States. Her complex condition, with the vascular complication, requires it. In Israel, there is not enough availability of organs, and that is a shame.”
After a prolonged struggle, the family received approval for funding the medical procedure in the United States. The Health Ministry and Clalit Health Services will fund the surgery and hospitalization, but the funding does not include all the expenses that accompany a transplant.
Ortal and Amit are expected to live for an extended period near the hospital and pay out of pocket for housing, food, transportation to tests and treatments, and other living expenses. At the same time, their three children will remain at the family home in Nahariya with their grandmother, while the mortgage, bills and other household expenses continue to be paid.
“The expected wait for a transplant like this can be anywhere from a few months to even a year,” Amit explained. “We have no indication. A liver is not an off-the-shelf product. I am stopping work to be by Ortal’s side, while at the same time the house here has to keep functioning and the children are staying here. That is why we need help.
Ortal's husband, Amit, has served over 700 days in the reserves since October 7
(Photo: Courtesy)
The family has launched a crowdfunding campaign. The initial goal was 250,000 shekels, intended to allow them to fly to the United States, fund the first period of their stay near the hospital and maintain stability for the children in Israel. After the goal was quickly reached, the campaign moved to a new target of 500,000 shekels. As of Wednesday morning, more than 315,000 shekels had been raised.
“We would be grateful if the people of Israel would open their hearts and their wallets,” Amit said. “It would help us very much. I am moved and stunned by the amount raised in such a short time, and I deeply appreciate everyone who has already donated.”
Ortal joined him in thanking those who have helped the family so far. “Thank you to everyone who donated, opened their hearts and gave. These are not simple days for anyone, and we very much appreciate the help, the warmth and the embrace we are receiving.”