Maayana Miskin, Arutz Sheva, Israel National News

Eight Israelis were given a second chance at life this week as doctors at Rabin Medical Center's Beilinson Hospital performed several complex transplant operations over just a few days. Among those to be saved were a single mother and Israel's oldest Cystic Fibrosis transplant survivor.

Doctors transplanted a total of 11 organs: six lungs, one liver, three kidneys, and a pancreas.

Among the patients who received transplants was Liora, a woman from Herzliya who is Israel's oldest Cystic Fibrosis patient to receive new lungs. Liora has already defeated the odds - at 43, she has lived several years beyond the life expectancy for female Cystic Fibrosis patients.

Cystic Fibrosis is a chronic, genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. After receiving new lungs, Liora is in good condition, and no longer needs a respirator.

A second transplant patient was a 36-year-old single mother from Kiryat Gat. The woman was in critical condition after suffering liver failure, and is now in moderate condition and recovering.

The youngest transplant recipient was a 20-year-old man from Or Yehuda, and the oldest was a 66-year-old man from Taibe.

Professor Eytan Mor, who heads Rabin Medical Center's Beilinson transplant department, said Monday, "Despite the hard, round-the-clock work involved, we are very pleased to have had the honor of saving lives. All this was possible due to the generosity of families who suffered tragedy, but at the hardest moment, agreed to organ donation."

Professor Motti Kramer linked the transplant marathon to the national Jewish day of mourning, Tisha B'Av, that was marked last Wednesday night and Thursday in memory of the destruction of the Temple. "Immediately after ending the Tisha B'Av fast, I rushed to the hospital, along with other members of the team. We talked about how right after the fast, we were saving lives - as the destruction ends, salvation comes."