In the mid-seventies, I lived with my family in the city of Al-Kharj because my father worked in the military factories at that time. I was very attached to my older sister, Gamalat, and I would always be by her side. Gamalat was always kind, optimistic, and positive, despite suffering from an autoimmune disease for many years.

When I was fifteen years old, I learned that my sister Gamalat had developed kidney failure due to the autoimmune disease and had to undergo dialysis three times a week. The dialysis sessions were among the most exhausting and painful experiences for my sister, who suffered from the disease and the arduous dialysis journey for years.

I heard from my family about the only glimmer of hope, something quite foreign to me because I had never heard of it before: Gamalat could get better if she underwent a kidney transplant! All my older siblings underwent laboratory tests to find a compatible donor from the family, but none matched Gamalat's tissue type and blood group. They did not ask me to do the tests due to my young age; I was 17, had been married for less than a month, and had moved abroad with my husband.

During my visit to my family in the Kingdom after three months, I knew what had happened and insisted on doing the tests to donate. My parents were against my donation, but seeing their daughter suffering forced them to agree after much insistence. I hoped my sister could live a life without suffering.

The transplant operation was performed at the Armed Forces Hospital (Prince Sultan Military Medical City) in Riyadh in November 1979 when I was seventeen years old. The worried and tired face of my mother, fearing she might lose two daughters at once, was the first face I saw after waking up from the operation that lasted more than six hours. I knew that Gamalat was also fine and that the operation was successful. Two days later, they brought my sister to see me, and I felt relieved, as if the pain had vanished after seeing her and knowing she was well.

Thanks to God, the days passed, and I gave birth to my eldest son two years after the operation, as per the doctor's orders, and I did not suffer any health problems due to the donation. Then, I had my second son and then my daughter. I did not know that God would bless me with a son who suffered from the same disease. My donation to my sister years earlier paved the way for God’s facilitation of my son's successful liver and kidney transplants. 
Organ transplantation is a great blessing from God for those who have suffered for years from kidney diseases and the continuous, exhausting dialysis, like my son. A transplant might be the only hope to save the lives of dialysis patients. My message is that if you can save a life or alleviate the suffering of someone in need of an organ transplant, consult specialists in the field and learn more about the amazing advancements in organ transplantation. Seek God's guidance, and perhaps He will grant you the reward of donation and saving a life.

As Allah says, "And whoever saves one life, it is as if he had saved all of humanity." (Qur'an 5:32)

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