ByLeon Symons, Leon Symons
Organs from a three-and-a-half-year-old Palestinian boy who died after a tragic accident have saved the lives of three people.
Abdul Hai Salhut fell near his home in Jabel Mukaber in east Jerusalem about ten days ago. He was taken by his family to a local hospital and then transferred to Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital, where he underwent surgery. But despite the efforts of doctors to keep him alive, his condition deteriorated and he died on Thursday.
In the midst of their grief at the loss of their son, the boy's parents gave their approval for his organs to be used to save the lives of others.
Two children and an adult benefited from Abdul's organs. A five-year-old boy received an urgent liver transplant and is now recovering at the Schneider Children's Medical Centre.
A girl aged seven who suffered from a serious lung disease received one lung, while a 55-year-old man was
given the other.
Abdul's father Moussa Salhut told an Israeli news organisation: "My son reached a state where it was impossible to save him. We're happy to see him alive in other people, regardless of whether they are Arab or Jewish.
"It doesn't make a difference when you save life. In the shadow of our difficult loss, we are touched to have saved lives."