A miracle at Camp Nou
Gérard is Éric’s cousin who over one year ago donated part of his liver to save Abi’s life. “Without him I wouldn’t be here today.” A few very strong words that tell a story about a hard fight between life and death. When in March 2012 it became official that Éric Abidal had relapsed and needed a liver transplant, few thought he’d ever play football again. Still that wasn’t the biggest concern, the biggest concern was that he’d survive. If he would see his girls grow up, if he would see his team play another game. Gérard was the one who put himself under the scalpel to save Éric, something Éric will forever be extremely thankful for. But it wasn’t only thanks to Gérard that we got to see Éric Abidal out on the Camp Nou pitch this evening. It was also thanks to Éric. He never let his guard down, he never gave up, he just kept on smiling and encouraging everyone around him.
Éric even took the time to encourage others who also suffered from cancer.
“You have in your head the same thing that Abidal has in his liver, and tomorrow they will remove it.” This is what a dad told his 15-year-old son, two minutes after they received the terrible news about his condition. The son looked at his dad and said, “Dad, buy me an Abidal shirt. I’m going to fight like him and win my own Champions League.” The boy didn’t cry, and he was the only one who didn’t as he went into the operating room with his Abidal shirt.
One week later the dad ran into Abidal at a store and told him the story about his son, showing him a picture of his child at the hospital with his Abidal shirt. Five months later, Abidal, Puyol and Alexis visited the hospital. When Éric entered the room, the boy cried for the first time since getting his diagnosis. Abidal went up to the boy and told him that he was there to encourage him. Before leaving, Abidal gave the boy his Rolex watch that had his number 22 inscribed, saying that the watch was better off with the kid as it could bring him happiness. According to the dad, the visit from Abidal gave his boy a joy he had never seen in him before and at night he would put on the light to look at the inscription on the watch just one more time.
It has been more than a year since Éric Abidal last played a football match. A year in which he has suffered physically, but mostly mentally. During the months he spent in the hospital he only saw his daughters on three occasions, as he didn’t want them to see him in his condition. Not seeing his daughters was one of the hardest things Éric had ever gone through. But he always kept on fighting, and he never stopped believing that one day he’d be out on that pitch again. Neither did the club, who decided to renew Abidal’s contract even though they couldn’t be sure he’d ever play again. During the presentation of the squad in August 2012, Tito Vilanova said that they would keep on waiting for Abi, for as long as he needed. Tito also said “Abi, your fight is our strength.” Words Abidal revealed, after yesterday’s game, that have helped him on his way back.
When Éric was in the squad for the Celta Vigo game last week, player after player took a picture with him, on the bus or on the plane. Each post on twitter or Facebook was to tell the world that look, our hero is back! Yesterday after the game they all did it again. Youth players and ex-teammates also tweeted about their happiness for Abi’s return, posting old pictures they had once taken with him.
Éric Abidal’s comeback yesterday was so much more than a professional football player returning to a football field. It was about a young man winning over cancer. A young man inspiring a whole world. A young man showing strength that is out of this world, but also giving strength to those who need it.
When Abidal came out to warm up, it felt like the entire Camp Nou just stopped watching the game. You could feel how the football match taking place did not matter. Instead the fans’ eyes were on this man running back and forth on the sideline. The fans’ lips were screaming his name.
Éric Abidal has shown Barça fans that football is just football and there is more to life than football. He has also made it possible for Barça fans to celebrate the biggest victory any club, any person, any one could ever celebrate. The victory of life.
Yesterday, April 6th, 2013, Camp Nou saw a miracle take place. And I was there.
Merci Gérard for saving our Rey Éric and Merci Abi for never giving up. You are a true inspiration and role model. Merci!
No comments:
Post a Comment