Georgis Pataridis -- Team Czech Republic

Age: 34

Transplant: Kidney 1992

Hometown: Prague, Czech Republic

Events: Tennis, table tennis, ball throw, 100m run

Athlete's Story:  When I was 10 years old, I started to play hockey, and since that time, sport accompanied me throughout my predialysis life. Even when I met the "artificial kidney" for the first time, I supposed there would be some adventure in my life. But step by step, I started to wake up to reality. Suddenly, I could not dive in the swimming pool, could not run, and I was totally shocked when I could not even climb up the first floor at home. Anyone who does not know what this is like cannot believe it. Black reality. Breakdown.

On December 20, 1992, I received the best Christmas gift I could get. The new kidney. Was it, however, just a Christmas gift, or was it a symbol of new life? I don't know, and it will be a permanent question for me. I had to learn once more how to be "alive" and how to enjoy life as well as I could before, and, to try to help everybody who suffered from my disease.

And what about sports? I started to ride horses. I had never done it before the surgery. I started to play hockey once more, not only as a player (I might be a little bit old for it) but I also became the children's coach and started to be interested in ultra-light planes.

My Message to the World:  Anybody who faces any health disorder knows what is important in human life. Nobody needs your sadness, nobody needs your crying, but everybody needs your smile. Smile and let your smile makes other human beings happy!  Live and enjoy your extra life, and don't forget to be patient and grateful.

 

Last modified: 11 May 2000