Tragic Accidental Death of Child Leads to Saving Lives of Three Children

B”H

I am distressed that so many religious people believe they cannot donate organs. Saving a life is the highest mitzvah, saving the life of one person is like saving a nation. This this little girl has saved three lives so far.

Please take a moment to check out the Halachic Organ Donation Society website <http://www.hods.org> and learn about organ donation. If you prefer to watch a video on the topic, the Halachic Organ Donation Society has a Youtube channel where you can hear testimonials and see stories of those who need organs at <http://www.youtube.com/user/Hodsociety>.

Also, you might wish to check out the Rabbinical Council of America’s homepage where, on the right-hand side, there is a section entitled “Commonly Used Forms.” There you will find a Health Care Proxy Brochure, a Health Care Proxy Form, and a Halakhic will. They also have a “living will” online, at <http://www.rabbis.org/news/article.cfm?id=100544>.

No matter what your age, it is important to make these decisions while you are healthy and of sound mind. These are issues that your spouse and your children shouldn’t have to guess about. They should know. You should prepare.

Of course, in the case of a small child, it is impossible to foresee a tragedy such as that which has befallen Eva Korneinko and her mother.

G-d bless her mother. She is an amazingly strong person, and a person with firm ethics and a good heart. In a moment of great pain and anguish, she thought of others. She gave hope to the lives of three children and their parents. These children now have the opportunity to live long lives, to have children of their own, and to live normal lives.

Eva’s organs will live on in the bodies of other children, who will have children of their own, and grandchildren and great grandchildren. May her name always be upon their lips. May they name their children in her name, and may they include her courageous mother in their invitations for life events such as bar mitzvahs and weddings. May she know, every day, that her little daughter will never be forgotten.

M
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Eva's death saves lives of 3 sick children
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3785371,00.html

Eight-year-old Eva Kornienko suffers severe head injury when hit by car on her way to park. Her mother decided to donate her organs


Horrible tragedy brings about big hopes: Eight-year-old Eva Kornienko of Petah Tikva was killed in a car accident while crossing the road in her hometown. Korneienko's mother, Natasha, decided to donate Eva's organs to help save other sick children.

So far, the donations saved the lives of three children at the Schneider Children's hospital in Petach Tikva. "She had a heavenly heart," said Natasha of her daughter.

Just like any other Friday, Eva Kornienko, accompanied by friends, crossed the road on her way to the park when a car hit her, causing massive head injury. Kornienko was rushed to Schneider, where she was hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit. Last Tuesday doctors pronounced her death.

Eva's father died 18 months ago after battling cancer, and now her mother, Natasha, who raised her only daughter alone, was left to face the impossible – saying goodbye to her little girl.

"The decision was extremely difficult," Kornienko told Ynet with teary eyes, still not fully comprehending her daughter's passing. "It's not easy to part with your child, and Eva was all I had left in my life. She was like a queen; a charming, beautiful girl, who talked like an adult."

Kornienko continued describing her daughter, saying she was "so smart, and with a golden heart. She loved people and had a heavenly heart, which is why I was sad her heart was not compatible for transplant. We hope she will be able to save the lives of other children."

So far, Eva's organs helped save the lives of three children; her liver was transplanted in an eight-year-old boy, her kidney in a four-year-old boy, and her other kidney in a 16-year-old. The transplants all took place at Schneider Children's Hospital, and were completed successfully.

The eight-year-old recipient of the liver suffered from a metabolic condition caused by a chemical disorder called the "urea cycle", which leads to the accumulation of nitrogenous waste that causes cognitive dysfunctions. The transplant will allow the boy to lead a normal life, and not require a special diet.

The liver transplant lasted nine hours and was led by Professor Eitan Mor, director of the Department of Transplantation at the Rabin and Schneider medical centers in Petah Tikva.

The kidney was transplanted in a 4-year-old boy who suffered from a developmental disorder in the urinary system, which caused him to suffer from repeated infections and damaged his kidneys. The transplant procedure was complex and lasted six hours.

"It was not simple" Professor Mor told Ynet. "A whole hospital crew was called in once we received word of the donation. We're talking about dozens of people, from surgeons to anesthesiologists, nurses, technicians, and many other employees. All the patients are doing well, and we hope they continue to feel well."