Ten months later their bubble burst. Shimon, who had not been feeling well of late, received an ominous diagnosis. His liver was functioning at about ten percent of its normal capacity. The only treatment was a liver transplant.
Tikvah’s father flew to Boston to help the young couple wade through the myriad medical appointments and decisions. He realized that Shimon’s chances of receiving a transplant were quite slim. First, he would have to be placed on a waiting list. Then, assuming his turn came up, the donor would have to be a proper match for Shimon. And even after the transplant, there would still be a possibility of organ rejection.
The complications ahead of them seemed staggering. Tikvah’s father was a source of strength for the young couple. He told them, “I know the future looks very bleak, but we must never lose our trust in Hashem. We do not understand His ways at times, but we must always remember that everything He does is for the good, part of His plan, even when we don’t see it right away.”
Shimon was taking powerful drugs to keep him alive until a donor could be found. During one of Shimon’s hospitalizations, his doctor entered the room one Thursday night and announced that Shimon would be discharged shortly. Tikvah’s father, visiting at the time, asked if Shimon could stay another week, as he realized Shimon’s chances of receiving a new liver were greater as a hospitalized patient.
The Doctor Allowed Shimon to Stay For One More Week
Though the doctor could not justify Shimon remaining any longer in the hospital, he allowed Shimon to stay for one more week. The following Tuesday, the doctor brought them the incredible news that a donor had been found for Shimon! Grinning from ear to ear, the doctor told them, “You are even more fortunate than you can imagine! We are planning to give you not only a new liver, but also a new pancreas!”
His enthusiasm was lost on Tikvah and Shimon, who stared at him uncomprehendingly. The doctor explained: “Shimon is a diabetic with liver failure. Pancreatic transplants are never performed for diabetics because the risk of complications from the powerful immunosuppressant drugs that a transplant patient has to take is too great. But since we’re going to give Shimon a new liver and he will need these drugs anyway, giving him a new pancreas as well entails no additional risk. If the transplant is successful, there is hope that Shimon’s liver disease and his diabetes can be cured with a single operation!”
The Insurance Company Did Not Agree to Pay for All of the Treatments
Shimon and Tikvah’s jaws dropped open. They were overwhelmed. But that was not all. The doctor further explained that this kind of surgery had never been performed before, and their insurance company did not agree to pay for all of it. The liver transplant alone would cost the insurance company $250,000, with the pancreas transplant costing an equally exorbitant amount.
The insurance company felt it would be cheaper for Shimon to live on insulin for the rest of his life. Since the hospital wanted credit for performing the first combined liver and pancreas transplant, they had agreed to waive all charges for the pancreas transplant!
All the hashgacha pratis Tikvah and Shimon had just experienced was indeed incredible, but it paled in comparison to another factor. Shimon’s name came up during the last week of his over-extended hospitalization. Not only did his name come up while he was still in the hospital, giving him a priority status, but he was also chosen just seven days before the rules governing the waiting list were changed!
According to the new standards, Shimon would never have even come close to qualifying for a new liver! Shimon’s double transplant was successful, and he recuperated in record time. He emerged as a whole and healthy young man, cured of his liver dysfunction and diabetes. Tikvah thought she was compromising when agreeing to marry Shimon. But Hashem’s plan took them on a journey that made Shimon even healthier than before. (Zorei’a Tzedakos)
Reprinted from the Parshas Behar 5784 email of The Weekly Vort.
