Transplant success story

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Kidney

transplant recipient Ivan Klasnic gives Croatia victory at Euros

6 hours ago

KLAGENFURT,

Austria — Ivan Klasnic completed his stunning recovery from a

life-threatening ailment Monday, scoring to give Croatia a 1-0 win over Poland

as he became the first player to ever take part at the European Championship

after a kidney transplant.

Stand-in

captain Danijel Pranjic passed the ball into the area to Klasnic, who struck a

low, left-footed shot past goalkeeper Artur Boruc into the net in the 53rd

minute at Worthersee Stadium for his ninth goal in 30 internationals.

Klasnic,

playing his first match at Euro 2008, received a thunderous reception from

Croatian fans as he took the field for the Group B match and again when he was

substituted in the 74th minute.

" I'm

happy that I'm here at all, " Klasnic said. " As I said once, this is

like a bonus from God. It's like a dream. I thank God that I'm alive and that I

can play football. "

Croatia will play Turkey in the quarter-finals in Vienna on Friday and, after winning the

man-of-the-match award, Klasnic hopes to play a part.

" I'm

proud to be a part of this team, " Klasnic said. " Hopefully, my coach

will think of me when we play the quarter-finals. "

In

January 2007, the German-born Klasnic suffered kidney failure. Shortly

afterward, he received a transplant but his body rejected the kidney donated by

his mother. A couple of months later, he again underwent surgery to replace the

rejected kidney with one from his father.

Nine

months later, Klasnic made an emotional return to football with his club Werder

Bremen in the

Bundesliga.

The

28-year-old Klasnic started with coach Slaven Bilic resting most of his

first-choice players because Croatia had been assured of finishing top in Group

B after beating Euro 2008 co-host Austria 1-0 and Germany 2-1.

He led

most of Croatia's

attacks in the first half, missing two good chances when facing goalkeeper

Artur Boruc in one-on-one situations. Although he didn't look to be afraid of

being tackled by defenders, he briefly held his back in pain after a clash in

the last minute of the half.

Klasnic,

who wears a fibreglass shield to protect him on the field, is one of a small

number of professional athletes to return after an organ transplant. Without

the protection, a kick could prove life-threatening.

Bilic

said it is no surprise that Klasnic is nicknamed " The Killer " by his

teammates because of his scoring instincts.

" We

are really glad that we have him in our team after that harrowing experience of

his, " Bilic said. " It is amazing that he came back to such a high

professional level so quickly.

" It's

a dream ending to a horror story. "