03.11.2026 13:43
Elifsu Yüksel, an 11-year-old undergoing treatment for heart failure, was placed on the emergency heart transplant list 5 months ago when her condition worsened. Waiting for transplant day with her mother at Hacettepe University Children's Hospital, Elifsu said she misses her siblings and home very much and called for organ donation.
Elifsu Yüksel (11), who has been receiving heart failure treatment at Hacettepe University Children's Hospital for about 2 years, was placed on the emergency heart transplant list 5 months ago due to the progression of her condition.
Elifsu Yüksel, one of the 3 children of Hatice Gürbilek Yüksel and Mustafa Yüksel, was diagnosed with heart failure 3.5 years ago at Antalya Training and Research Hospital, where she was taken with complaints of bluish lips and severe fatigue. Elifsu Yüksel, who was referred to Hacettepe University Children's Hospital in Ankara, was placed on the heart transplant list in 2025. Her family made an organ donation appeal for Elifsu on social media. However, no suitable heart was found. Five months ago, Elifsu Yüksel was placed on the emergency heart transplant list due to the progression of her heart condition. Elifsu, who has been staying with her mother Hatice Yüksel in her room at Hacettepe University Children's Hospital for 5 months, is waiting for the day she will receive a heart transplant. Elifsu also continues her education in the classroom at the hospital.
HER HEART CONDITION PROGRESSED, SHE WAS PLACED ON THE EMERGENCY LIST
Speaking during Organ Donation Week on November 3-9, Elifsu Yüksel's mother Hatice Gürbilek Yüksel said, “Elifsu's latest condition: her pulmonary pressure is slightly high. Because the condition in her heart has progressed a little further, it was decided that she needed to be placed on the emergency list. That is why we have been trying to continue this process in the hospital for about 5 months. The hospital, the ward, the room are a home, a school, the place where we need to be with our loved ones. Elifsu misses her school, she misses her friends. She constantly asks me, ‘When will I have a transplant and be reunited with my loved ones?’ I try to give her strength, and she tries to give me strength. I tell her every time that we will leave here. There are many things people believe to be true about organ donation that are actually wrong. I think they should research well and learn well; we need to raise awareness a little more about how important organ donation is. I think the more people we can reach, the more we can minimize the time these children spend here. Because this place is truly a school, a home, a park, everything for them. Yes, they try to cope with this situation, but they actually get very tired.”
HER MOTHER: WE ARE WAITING WITH HOPE
Stating that Elifsu's biggest dream is to be reunited with her siblings, Hatice Yüksel said, “I want her to run and play in good health so much. She says, ‘Mom, when will I run? I want to go to the park and play too.’ I want to see her run out of here. I want her to run without getting tired, without saying, ‘Mom, I'm tired.’ Six transplants took place here in 5 months, and we were happy for each one separately, because all of them are our children here. Their joy is our joy, their sorrow is our sorrow. We are waiting for this to continue. We witness shouts of joy here. We will experience that joy together with our other waiting children and shout those cries ourselves. We are waiting with hope. We need awareness about organ donation. Please donate your organs. I have also donated my organs. Donate your organs, do not be afraid. Because with the organ you donate, another life will continue, and in this way, they too will actually continue to live.”
ELIFSU: I MISS MY YOUNGER SIBLING SO MUCH
Speaking in her room at the hospital, Elifsu Yüksel said, “I am waiting for a heart transplant at Hacettepe University Hospital. I miss my younger sibling, I miss them so much. I want to go home. I miss my younger sibling so much, I miss my older brother, I miss my father. When I grow up, I want to be a painter, a doctor, or a police officer. I enjoy playing the piano, drawing, and singing. I want to regain my health and go home as soon as possible. Organ donation saves lives. Donate your organs.”