14.03.2026 14:12
Recep Kurk, who lives in Tekirdağ, clung to life with the kidney donated by his son-in-law. On March 14, World Kidney Health Day, Kurk shared his feelings, saying, "Everyone was surprised; there are people who don't believe it. They say, 'He must be a good son-in-law.' Those who haven't experienced it don't understand." The son-in-law, Yalçın Taşçı, stated, "My wife was going to donate her kidney, but since it didn't match, I gladly gave mine. After getting married, he becomes your father anyway."
51-year-old Recep Kurk, who lives in Tekirdağ, continues his life with a kidney transplant from his son-in-law Yalçın Taşçı due to kidney health issues.
51-year-old Recep Kurk, a father of three who lives in the Şarköy district of Tekirdağ and works as a baker, learned years ago through tests that he had problems with his kidneys. As he entered the treatment process, the need for dialysis arose over time, and a donor search began for the transplant. When no suitable match was found in his family, his 35-year-old son-in-law Yalçın Taşçı, who lives in Rize and married his daughter two years ago, offered to donate his kidney. After tests showed compatibility and no obstacles, plans were made for the transplant at Biruni University Hospital. On January 19, the operation performed by the Responsible Physician of the Organ Transplant Center, General Surgery Specialist Prof. Dr. Halil Erbiş, and his team successfully transplanted the kidney from the son-in-law to the father-in-law. Both the health team and the family experienced great joy with the successful completion of the surgery. After the operation, the father-in-law and son-in-law shared their experiences while Prof. Dr. Halil Erbiş spoke about the treatment and transplant process. Prof. Dr. Erbiş also made important warnings on the occasion of World Kidney Health Day on March 14.
"I AM CONSIDERING DONATING MY REMAINING ORGANS"
Speaking about the difficult process they went through, 51-year-old Recep Kurk said, "I had COVID during the pandemic, then I had an angiogram. I had an infection, and then my kidney issues emerged. In the last phase, our doctors presented us with the options of either dialysis or transplant. We decided on the transplant, and we started testing with our daughters first. It didn't work out, so our son-in-law Yalçın Taşçı decided to donate. We thanked him and were happy. We knew each other before he became my son-in-law; we were like friends. Now that he is my son-in-law, we are still like friends, and I am the same with my daughter. It turned out well; both my son-in-law and I are doing fine. We went into surgery together; my daughter looked after him, and my wife looked after me. We had a 10-day hospitalization and were discharged. We come for our check-ups every week. People need to be a little more sensitive. Those who haven't experienced it don't understand. There are many people waiting for transplants, waiting for cadaver donations, and unable to find from their relatives. I am considering donating my remaining organs. Everyone was surprised, 'Oh, did your son-in-law give it?' they still say, and there are people who don't believe it. 'How did he give it, how did he accept it?' A person can live with one kidney; there are many people like that. 'It seems that the son-in-law is a good son-in-law, and you are a good father-in-law,' they say," he said.
"I GAVE IT WILLINGLY"
Speaking about the process, Kurk's son-in-law, 35-year-old Yalçın Taşçı, said, "It has been 2 years since we got married; my wife was going to donate her kidney, but since it didn't match, I stepped in. I gave it willingly, as a sacrifice. There can be some family disagreements, but we didn't have any. My wife's blood types didn't match, so there would have been a cross-donation. Mine matched, and I willingly donated. She accepted it happily; she needs to take care of herself. Like me, she has one kidney. After getting married, the father-in-law becomes your father in the end. Even if you are not of the same blood, if your blood types match, you can donate without thinking. Don't be afraid to donate organs," he said.