On January 3, in Rize, 18-year-old Medine Yılmaz, who suffered brain death following a traffic accident, gave hope to five patients through organ donation. Her liver, one of her kidneys, and her corneas were sent to Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) for transplantation to patients in need.

"Approximately 1,000 Patients in Our Region Are Waiting for a Kidney Transplant"

Prof. Dr. Yarkın Kamil Yakupoğlu, Head of the Kidney Transplant Center at Ondokuz Mayıs University, stated, "On January 14, 2025, one of the organs donated by a cadaveric donor—an 18-year-old who suffered brain death after a traffic accident at Rize Training and Research Hospital—was successfully transplanted into a 43-year-old patient living in Samsun at OMU. This marked our first cadaveric transplant of 2025. Our center is particularly recognized for cadaveric kidney transplants and is one of the leading centers in Türkiye for such procedures. We have extensive experience in this field, and currently, approximately 1,000 patients in our region are awaiting kidney transplants. It is incredibly gratifying for us to be able to give them hope. The number of kidney transplants performed at our center continues to increase. As public awareness of organ donation grows, we achieve more positive outcomes, bringing joy to our team and our patients. I extend my deepest gratitude to the donor’s family and offer my condolences for their loss. May they rest in peace. When people donate their or their loved ones' organs, those organs will return to others as a light of life."

"The Only Transplant Center Providing This Service in the Region"

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kağan Karabulut, Faculty Member of OMU’s Department of General Surgery and Deputy Coordinator of Liver Transplantation, also emphasized the importance of the center, saying, "Recently, a liver donated in Rize was transferred to our unit and gave new hope to a patient awaiting a transplant. Our patient's current condition is quite stable. Our organ transplant center is the only one providing this service in the Black Sea Region, and we have many patients on the waiting list. We encourage and appeal to the public to donate their organs and support this vital cause. I also sincerely thank the families who have chosen to donate their loved ones’ organs."