The act of 43-year-old Branko Đalamić from Bogatić has amazed people in Mačva and Serbia. The brave taxi driver donated a kidney to his childhood friend. Both spoke about it from a clinic in Istanbul.
Branko Đalamić from Bogatić, who sat with Siniša in the same school desk, says that when he heard that Siniša had one kidney removed and the other was failing, he didn’t hesitate for a moment to donate his.
“I just prayed that I would pass the tests as soon as possible and that I could do it. The first thing that came to my mind when the doctors came to me was how he was. That was my first question after waking up. And they said that he was fine, that he had to spend 24 hours in the shock room, and that we would see each other the next day. And then I was happiest, because the kidney started working literally on the table. As soon as they transplanted the kidney, his body accepted it immediately and started working right away,” says Branko.
For the medical team, translators, and employees at the Turkish clinic, the meeting of the two friends after the transplant was particularly touching.
“I was stunned, I couldn’t believe it. Even my closest relatives wouldn’t have offered me what he offered me. So we were at his house, went for check-ups, came here, and all in all, in seven days we decided to come to Turkey,” says Siniša Novaković. The friends are in Istanbul with their wives. Everything that happened has further strengthened their relationship.
They describe it with the words:
“We are no longer friends, we are now brothers. Slavica Novaković, Siniša’s wife, says that before the transplant, they were in the hospital more than at home.
“This is something new for us now. We need to get used to everything and return to a new life. We have known each other for years, and we have been here every day for the past month, like one family,” emphasizes Slavica.
Sonja Đalamić, Branko’s wife, explains that at first, worried about Branko, she was shocked when her husband told her he wanted to give his friend a new life.
“But when we looked at the situation, we realized that he would no longer have those health problems. The children and I supported him. The most important thing is that both of them are happy and smiling. As a proud wife, I would wish everyone to be satisfied and happy in their lives. Health is the most important thing and I live with that fact, do good and hope for good,” emphasizes Sonja.
Slavica Novaković, Siniša’s wife, adds that they discovered that they have a large circle of friends and that the people who were with them helped them on that thorny path.
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Izvor: RTS, Foto: Printscreen RTS