19/08/2026
A Simple Cheek Swab That Helped Save a Life: Aardvark Israel Alumnus and Masa Participant Donates Stem Cells to a 14-Year-Old Boy
*Full article in Hebrew below*
In honor of World Organ Donation Day, which was marked last week on August 13, Koby Rosen shares how joining a donor registry during his Aardvark Israel gap year, as part of Masa Israel Journey, enabled him five years later to help save the life of a teenager with severe aplastic anemia.
Koby Rosen, who spent his gap year in Israel with Aardvark Israel as part of Masa Israel Journey, was 19 when a close friend convinced him to come to Israel. He could not have known that a simple test he completed during the program would lead him, five years later, to help save the life of a 14-year-old boy.
Rosen arrived in Israel during the COVID-19 pandemic, at a time when the country was largely closed to tourists. Masa secured special authorization enabling its fellows to enter Israel and begin their programs despite the restrictions.
Although he arrived under unusual circumstances, Rosen does not feel that the pandemic prevented him from exploring the country or experiencing life in Israel.
“It was already the stage when Israel had the Green Pass, so we were still able to travel and explore the country,” he said.
One of the most meaningful elements of his year was his professional internship. His supervisor, an Arab Christian from East Jerusalem, soon became much more than a boss.
“He also felt like a friend. I got to know his family and speak with him about much more than work,” Rosen recalled. “It gave me the opportunity to understand both the complexity and the beauty of Israel.”
During the program, Rosen also participated in a Gift of Life donor registration event held at the Aardvark Israel offices. He completed a simple cheek swab and joined the organization’s donor registry. Although he understood that he might one day be contacted as a potential match, he never expected it to happen.
“When I did the test, the thought crossed my mind that maybe one day I would be found to be a match, but the chances seemed so small,” he said.
Five years later, Rosen received an unexpected phone call. Initially assuming that it might be spam, he then received a text message and an email confirming that he had been identified as a potential donor for a 14-year-old boy suffering from severe aplastic anemia.
For Rosen, there was never any serious doubt that he would move forward.
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to save someone’s life,” he said.
Following information sessions, medical testing and preparation for the stem-cell collection, the donation went ahead. Rosen faced medical and logistical considerations during the process but remained determined to do everything possible to make the donation happen.
“It’s crazy how easy it can be to save a life,” he said. “Everyone should do it.”
Because of medical confidentiality, Rosen does not know the recipient’s identity. He was told only the boy’s age, gender and diagnosis. For Rosen, however, knowing more is not what matters.
“What matters is that I was given the opportunity to help save a life, regardless of who was on the other side,” he explained.
Today, Rosen is 24 and in his second year of medical school. In a remarkable closing of the circle, he was able to help save a life before becoming a doctor.
Asked what he would say to a Masa participant who was unsure about joining the donor registry, his answer was immediate:
“Definitely do it. If you are able to donate and it is safe for you, then just do it. Gift of Life made the entire process so easy, simple and clear. When I did the test, I never imagined that I would actually donate one day - but it happened, and it feels like a miracle.”
Masa Israel Journey CEO Meir Holtz, who donated a kidney about 10 years ago, said: “World Organ Donation Day is an opportunity to remember just how profoundly one person’s decision can change another person’s life. I was fortunate to experience the meaning of such a decision personally and to see the impact it can have not only on the recipient, but on their entire family. Donation begins with a willingness to see another person, recognize their need and ask what we can do to help. Koby’s story reflects a value at the heart of Masa’s work: the experience in Israel does not end with what we learn or discover here, but continues through the responsibility and values we carry with us. In his case, a simple cheek swab became an opportunity to save a life. It is difficult to imagine a more meaningful expression of giving.”
Link to the full article in Hebrew: https://www.makorrishon.co.il/news/health/article/361020
מסע - Masa Israel Journey The Jewish Agency for Israel Gift of Life Marrow Registry
