Golani Fighter Receives Cornea from Fallen Soldier

Why this is here: Guy Loder signed a donor card before his death at age 21, allowing his family to donate his organs and tissues to save lives.

In Petah Tikva, Israel, Shili Libovitz, a Golani Brigade fighter injured in Lebanon, received a corneal transplant from Staff Sergeant Guy Loder. Loder, a Maglan unit soldier, fell in Lebanon roughly one month ago. The Bilinson Hospital facilitated a meeting Sunday between Loder’s family and Libovitz, who received the donation.

The cornea from Loder’s donation aided in restoring Libovitz’s vision as part of complex treatment for eye injuries. Dr.

Asaf Dotan, head of the retina unit at Bilinson, noted Libovitz’s vision improved after the transplant, but a long recovery remains. Loder, 21, from Yuvallim, was an outstanding and sensitive soldier who signed an donor card.

Loder’s mother, Hagit, shared that her son always made people feel like his best friend, and donating his organs felt like a natural extension of his character. Libovitz, 22, from Omer, suffered severe eye injuries during a mission in Lebanon two months ago. Professor Yoav Nachum described the surgery as complex, offering real potential for vision recovery through mutual support and giving.