A Heart Transplant for his 43rd Birthday

The heart of a 22-year-old man who was pronounced clinically dead and was flown to Israel from the U.S. yesterday was successfully transplanted to Yaakov Messika - a patient in critical condition at Sheba Medical Center - Tel Hashomer

If it hadn't been for the heart transplant that saved his life, Yaakov would not have celebrated his 43rd birthday.

The life of 43-year-old Yaakov Messika was saved following the transplant of the heart of a 22-year-old who was flown to Israel for the transplant of his organs. The heart transplant was performed by Dr. Jacob Lavee - Director of the Heart Transplant Unit, who was assisted by Dr. Yigal Kassif and anesthesiologist Dr. Sergei Priceman, Head of the Cardiac Surgery Anesthesiology Unit.

Yaakov Messika, a resident of Kfar Saba and married father of two, who was hospitalized in Sheba's Intensive Care Unit in critical condition (under the supervision of Dr. Dov  Freimark, Director of the Unit for Congestive Heart Disease), received the gift of life.

Messika suffered from terminal congestive heart disease and minutes before the transplant he was unable to breathe on his own.

The heart of the young man arrived at Sheba Medical Center - Tel Hashomer at midnight and the transplant was completed by 4:00 a.m.

The organ transplant was successful, Messika was disconnected from the respirator, his new heart is functioning well and he is described to be in good condition.