The Donation of Life

Community Magazine | Debbie Cohen

He has been defying the odds and stumping doctors for years. But on Thursday, November 3, 2011, 37-year-old Ronen Bokovza, entered a new era in his life. On that mild autumn day, in the company of his spiritual mentor, Rabbi David Ozeri, Ronen prepared to spend to six hours attached to medical equipment at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. For virtually anyone else, this would have been a grueling ordeal. But for Ronen, this experience was practically standard fare – and in fact a miracle for which he was excited and exceedingly thankful.

For the past 17 years, Ronen suffered from a chronic kidney disorder and spent 12 hours out of every day attached to a dialysis machine in his house. During last month’s six hour procedure at Columbia, he received a kidney transplant—and with it, a chance to live a normal and healthy life.

But the account of Ronen’s journey to that moment is itself a remarkable story. From the untiring support of Renewal, the organization which tested 250 potential donors for Ronen before finding a match, to the incredible generosity of Tomer Naftali, the kidney donor – whom Ronen had never met until the morning of the transplant. And, in the center of it all, was Rabbi Ozeri and Congregation Yad Yosef, extending extraordinary support throughout the process.

Read more: http://www.communitym.com/article.asp?article_id=102002