Maria Andrejczyk won a silver medal in the last Tokio 2020 Olympic Games representing Poland. However, the athlete made an admirable decision and helped to continue the life of a baby. The javelin thrower auctioned her medal to cover the medical expenses of the child, who has a heart condition and was operated on at the University Hospital Dexeus in Barcelona.
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The historic moment for Milosz, eight months old, came on October 4th, when he underwent surgery in the Spanish city. As announced by the hospital, the patient has already been discharged and, along with his family, returned to Poland.
The child suffered from congenital heart disease that caused both cardiac and pulmonary problems. Photo: University Hospital Dexeus
According to the child's mother, he was diagnosed at four weeks old. She also expressed her gratitude to the athlete for her help, as the money raised from the sale of the Olympic medal and other contributions from individuals in their country have allowed for the operation of her son.
"We will be grateful for the rest of our lives. If it weren't for you, we don't know what would have happened. We wouldn't have a life," said Mónika, Milosz's mother, to her compatriot.
The baby underwent a surgical technique known as sutureless, to expand the drainage of the left pulmonary veins, and thus avoid placing sutures directly on the veins. After the successful intervention, the baby will be able to lead a normal life.
Dr. Raúl Abella, head of the Congenital Heart Disease Unit at the hospital, stated that this way "future narrowing is prevented, definitively correcting the drainage."
The medical services treating Milosz in Poland will have the support of the Cardiology and Pediatrics teams at Dexeus to monitor his health status, according to the same medical center.
Meanwhile, the European Athletics Federation recognized Andrejczyk's gesture and awarded her the Community Award at the Golden Tracks for her inspiring gesture after winning the Olympic silver medal in Japan.
"This silver medal is something exceptional, a culmination of all my efforts and sufferings, but above all, it has a special value because it saved Milosz's life," said the athlete during her award ceremony and added, "I didn't need to keep the medal (...) that's why I decided to auction it. I just wanted to help."