Hector Sanchez, a Chilean automobile salesman, has triumphed over adversity to become an international football champion. Diagnosed with a liver disease in his youth, Sanchez was advised against playing football. However, after two liver transplant operations, he joined a team of 20 other organ donor recipients and emerged victorious at the Transplant Football World Cup in September.
Sanchez’s victory is a testament to the power of organ donation. He credits his “second chance at life” to the transplant he received. Now, he is dedicated to promoting organ donation through sports.
Despite progressive legislation in Chile, organ donation rates remain low. The law presumes all adults as donors unless they opt out, but many people still refuse. Chile’s transplant rate of 10 per 1 million people is significantly lower than the regional leader, Uruguay, and the European Union.
Cultural factors also contribute to the low donation rate. Some families believe that organ donation desecrates the body. Ruth Leiva, head of the transplant unit at San Jose Hospital, explains that “there are many people who believe that (the corpse) will have its eyes gouged out.”
Sanchez’s story challenges these misconceptions. He emphasizes that organ donors are “normal people” who can live full and active lives. On the field, his team does not use any special protection or rules.
Sanchez’s victory at the Transplant Football World Cup is a powerful reminder of the importance of organ donation. He hopes to inspire others to consider becoming donors and to give others a “second chance at life.”
