Two Years of Waiting, 26 Hours of Racing: The Heart Flown from Cyprus and Transplanted in Israel
A phone call from Cyprus launched a medical and logistical operation against the clock: a team from Beilinson was flown to Nicosia, an ambulance plane was located at the last moment, and the heart of…
Assessment
A heart harvested from a young donor in Cyprus was flown to Israel and successfully transplanted at Beilinson Hospital, concluding a 26-hour sprint that relied on last-minute logistics including a chartered ambulance plane. The operation hinged on precise timing and cross-border coordination, turning a two-year wait into a single day. For patients on transplant lists, the story underscores how geography and rapid decision making can determine life or death.