Cem had lost his life when the donor withdrew from the transplant: “The donor is legally not guilty, but morally guilty.”

In the Konak district of Izmir, 20-year-old Cem Şahin, who was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer and needed a stem cell transplant, passed away after the donor backed out at the last minute. His grieving mother, Filiz Şahin, who initiated a legal battle, stated, “My son was prepared for the transplant with intensive medications. Later, the donor turned off their phone and when reached said, ‘I changed my mind.’ The donor is not legally guilty but is guilty in conscience.”

Cem Şahin, who lived in the Konak district, was diagnosed with lymphoma (lymph) cancer in May 2023. His treatment began immediately, and he underwent six months of chemotherapy. Despite the intensive treatment, the disease did not fully heal. As Cem’s treatment continued without interruption, it was decided that he would undergo a stem cell transplant. Starting from January 2024, they began searching for a donor for Cem. The awaited news came in March 2024. Mother Filiz Şahin received the joyful news during a journey and immediately called her son Cem. At that moment, Cem, who was with his friends, was overwhelmed with joy at the news of the donor being found. However, the operation was postponed for a while due to the donor getting a tattoo.

When the time for the transplant came, Cem Şahin was admitted to a private hospital on May 25, 2024. He began intensive medication treatment and was prepared for the transplant. During this process, the donor living in Istanbul underwent several tests as well. Two days before the transplant, the donor turned off their phone and did not answer for a while. After some time, officials managed to reach the donor. They received the response, “I changed my mind,” and officials visited the donor’s home but were unsuccessful.

Cem, who went to the hospital in good health and even drove himself, passed away 16 days later. His death deeply saddened the family. Mother Filiz Şahin stated that she initiated a legal battle and filed complaints against the donor, doctors, the hospital, and some institutions.

“Officials couldn’t reach him for the 4th injection”

Grieving mother Filiz Şahin said, “We lost Cem 4 months ago. After the diagnosis, he received six months of chemotherapy. Because the disease did not fully go away, it was decided to proceed with a stem cell transplant. Initially, his own cells were to be transplanted, but that didn’t happen. In January 2024, they started looking for a donor. They said, ‘If he has a sibling, it will work,’ but Cem has no siblings. They said they would look for a non-relative. In March 2024, I received a call saying, ‘A donor has been found.’ My happiness doubled. I was on the road and immediately hung up the phone to call Cem. At that moment, he was outside with his friends. They danced in the middle of the street out of joy. The transplant was delayed a bit due to the donor getting a tattoo because four months needed to pass after the tattoo. During this process, they were telling the donor, ‘You should back out,’ but he was saying, ‘I will do it.’ On May 25, 2024, we were admitted to the hospital. Cem was prepared for the transplant with intensive medications. During this process, the donor was also prepared, and three injections were administered. They couldn’t reach the donor for the 4th injection,” she stated.

Explaining that the donor turned off their phone, mother Şahin said they constantly tried to reach the donor. Mother Filiz Şahin said, “They were trying to reach him constantly the day he turned off his phone. He turned on his phone at 2:00 a.m. During that time, the officials from TÜRKÖK managed to reach him. He said, ‘I changed my mind.’ After turning off the phone, the officials went to his house, but they couldn’t convince him.”

“The donor is not legally guilty, but is guilty in conscience”

The grieving mother described how devastated she was when she learned the donor had backed out, saying, “Our world collapsed. When we entered the doctor’s office, he told us, ‘Cem’s donor turned out to be a psychopath; he shot fire at Cem’s forehead.’ Then I prepared for the transplant; injections were given, but it did not happen. Why was a B plan not prepared? Who prepares this B plan? TÜRKÖK? The hospital? The doctor? My child died because of these oversights. He drove himself to the hospital. His illness was stable; we weren’t in a hurry. I have now started a legal battle, applying everywhere, and we filed a criminal complaint. I want to hold accountable anyone who took even a second from my child. The donor is not legally guilty, but is guilty in conscience. Does he realize how he has destroyed a child? A woman, who might also be a mother or a mother-to-be, made my son live in fear of death for 12-13 days; let her experience the same pain. May God not take my soul without comparing me to him.