Swimmer Reut Barzilay dies after 3 lung transplants

After undergoing three lung transplants, 28-year-old silver medalist in European Transplant Games dies after contracting serious infection. Her family decides to fulfill her final request, donates her organs. 'Reut was symbol of organ donation,' says her brother-in-law

Swimmer Reut Barzilay, 28, passed away on Wednesday after six hard years of fighting for her life, during which she underwent three lung transplants. About a month ago, she contracted a serious infection of the lungs, and was hospitalized in the intensive care unit of Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva until her body gave out.

 

"Her last request was that we make every effort for her organs to be donated," said her brother-in-law Lior Carmel to Ynet. "She wanted to donate to others just as she received three lungs in transplants performed on her. She repeated the request all the time. Reut was a symbol of organ donation and wanted to lead this in her last days."

 

In order for Reut to be eligible to donate her organs, her doctors made every effort during her final days for her health status to permit this. Reut's family, who was well-aware of Reut's request to donate her organs, gave their consent. At the time of this article's publication, two of Reut's kidneys have been identified as positive matches for transplantation.

 

Military refuses, Reut volunteers

When she was one-month old, Reut was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. She had to take many medications all her life, went through extended hospitalizations, and underwent daily physiotherapy exercises simply in order to lead a normal lifestyle.

 

When the IDF turned her down due to her health condition, Reut volunteered for military service and served as a producer on Army Radio.

Reut after her second transplant

 

Six years ago, Reut's condition worsened, and she had to be connected to an oxygen tank throughout the day. At this stage, her doctors told her that she would not survive without a lung transplant. Within a year, Reut underwent her first lung transplant. This did not prevent her realizing her dream of becoming a competitive swimmer.

 

Reut started intensive swimming training and quickly rose to the top, taking home the silver medal in 100m breaststroke and the bronze medal in 50m backstroke at the European Heart & Lung Transplant Games held four years ago in Naples, Italy.

 

'Didn't forego joys of life'

However, despite her impressive achievements, two years ago her body started to reject the transplanted lungs. Her condition deteriorated, and she was pushed up to the top of the transplant list. A short time later, Reut underwent a second lung transplant.

 

In the years following her second transplant, Reut started to recover. She completed her Bachelors' Degree and even had a three-year relationship. "Reut did not forego the joys of life," said her brother-in-law. "She worked and did everything in order to live life as normally as she could."

 

Nine months ago, Reut's lungs collapsed again, and she was again bumped up to the top of the transplant list. She then underwent a third transplant. A month ago, fate struck again, and she contracted a serious infection. She was brought to the intensive care unit at Rabin Medical Center where she was kept on respirator and in a drug-induced coma most of the time.

 

"From our perspective, Reut is a symbol of life, of struggle, and of giving even under the most difficult conditions," said Lior Carmel. "She always said, 'I know what it means to keep your head above water. Only a lung transplant recipient feels all the time like he is drowning.' She did everything to keep from drowning, and her enormous desire to live led her to so many achievements."

 

Reut 'was survived by her parents and three siblings.