27.11.2024
Football of new opportunities. Doctors and patients united on a field in Yekaterinburg
On November 24, a friendly mini-football match took place at Sverdlovsk Regional Clinical Hospital No. 1, bringing together transplantologists and their patients living with a donor kidney or awaiting a transplant. The game was held in honor of Surgeon’s Day, which is traditionally celebrated on the last Sunday of November. This event became part of the “Transplant Football: Patients and Doctors Together” project, initiated by UNMIP “NEFRO-LEAGUE”.
The match became not only a sporting event, but also a symbol of victory over diseases and barriers. Chief transplantologist of the Urals Federal District Natalia Klimusheva noted in her welcoming speech: “We are witnessing a truly incredible event. Today we don’t expect victory from anyone, because the team has already won the main victories: patients – by changing their attitude towards their disease, doctors – by becoming specialists who can help them. I wish you all a good mood, kindness, peace and, most importantly, health!”
The patients, who regularly train and participate in tournaments, confidently showed their class, finishing the first half with a crushing score of 7:0. The doctors noted with humor that this was the result of their good work.
A special emotional note was brought by Sergei Eskov, player and coach of the patients’ team. He thanked the doctors for the opportunity to live a full life: “You experience very interesting emotions when you play with those who, one might say, gave you this opportunity. I’m very grateful to be living a full life now.”
The match ended with a “victory of friendship”: all participants received medals and diplomas. The best player was recognized as the surgeon of the Special Clinical Hospital No. 1, Igor Khrushchev, who was awarded a special prize from the Russian Football Union.
Igor Trofimov, chief physician of Regional Clinical Hospital No. 1, expressed hope that such matches will become an annual good tradition and will help draw attention to the importance of transplantation and a healthy lifestyle.
“Transplant Football” is a vivid example of how sport becomes a bridge between medicine and a new life for patients, showing that the main thing is faith in one’s strengths and the support of others.
Photos: Vadim Shamsiyarov
Tags: NEFRO-LEAGUE, transplant football
