In 2003, Fatum and Muhamad Jahalin, a Bedouin Arab couple residing in the Israeli desert, noticed something severely amiss with their newborn son Ahmad. Back then, there wasn't a precise genetic diagnosis, yet Ahmad was rapidly advancing towards end-stage liver failure and desperately required a liver transplant. Fatum was getting ready to donate a part of her liver when the couple received a call stating, "A whole liver has been found for your son."

Life-Saving Transplants at Schneider Children's Hospital

All three Jahalin boys had to undergo liver transplants at Schneider Children's Hospital in Tel Aviv due to a genetic disorder called PFIC 3. The highly complex operations performed at this hospital would mark the beginning of a remarkable life-saving bond between the facility and the family, time and again.For Ahmad, his donated liver came from an Arab man in Jerusalem who met with a tragic accident by falling off a building. His younger brother Khaled, born in 2007, received a liver from a Jewish man. Muhamad recounted, "Again, they intended to take a part of Khaled's mother's liver. But at the last moment, we got a call that someone had drowned, and the liver was donated. He was a Russian Jew."A third son, Moussa, was born in 2012 with the same genetic abnormality and was immediately transported to Schneider for "him to grow and for the mother to give some of her liver." Once again, a whole liver became available. Muhammed remembered, "There was a car accident in a nearby Bedouin village, and the parents decided to donate the organs of their deceased child."Now, Ahmad is 21 years old, married, and expecting a child. Khaled is 17, and Moussa is 12. The Jahalin family, with eight children in total, belongs to an indigenous group in the Negev desert and leads a semi-nomadic life.They live in very simple conditions, with a tin roof, cement floors, no electricity or running water. However, they know how to make do. As the family patriarch explained, "We know how to live without running water. We can dig and find water in the ground. When we eat bread, it's the bread we make ourselves, and we don't use preservatives. We make cheese from goats. We don't buy meat; we use our own, so we know exactly what the goats are eating, and the goat meat is good."Despite their traditional lifestyle, the parents firmly believe in modern medicine. They were extremely vigilant about ensuring their sons took their medication as required during the treatment process. This, as noted by the hospital's CEO, Efrat Harlev, is often a challenge for some patients in their situation. Muhamad said, "The one sentence you always heard in the house was, 'Did you take your medication?'"These liver transplants have not only saved the lives of the Jahalin boys but have also created a unique and inspiring story of hope and unity in the face of adversity. The Jahalin family's journey showcases the power of modern medicine and the importance of community support in times of need.