Two years after collapsing on a football ground due to a heart ailment a fully rehabilitated Fr Bolmax returns to the football field with the same vigour and passion displayed before
This is a story of willpower and passion, the story of FrBolmax Pereira. An assistant parish priest of Saviour of the World Church inLoutolim, he underwent an open heart surgery in October 2010 and is now playingfootball. In his own words, a strong faith in God and passion for footballenabled him to win this battle.
Bolmax was born with a heart ailment called 'aortic valvestenosis', but the Quepem man was not aware of his condition till August 2010."I was playing in a Sunday football match against Sao Jose de Areal. I wasin right wing-back position when all of a sudden, I crashed onto the groundafter playing for 10 minutes" says the 34-year-old Fr Bolmax.
A few days later, Fr Bolmax learnt that he had a seriousdisease of the heart valve, which meant his heart would not be able towithstand even the slightest physical exertion. He went to Bangalore for a'wide-awake' open heart surgery in October 2010.
A news channel from England covered this rare wide-awakeopen heart surgery in Bangalore. Fr Bolmax appeared cheerful even as the doctoradministered an injection just below the back of his neck to shield him fromany pain. "I feel excited about this and it is interesting that I will beawake during this surgery. Maybe I will be able to see my own heart," FrBolmax was quoted as saying on the channel.
On Sunday, Fr Bolmax was delighted to have made a comebackonto the field with the ball at his feet. He warmed up to the task and playedfor a good 15 minutes before he was substituted despite wanting to play more inthe exhibition match against Holy Spirit Parish parishioners. His team won thematch 2-1 at Holy Spirit Church ground in Margao to put the icing on the cake.
After the match, Fr Bolmax recounted his journey from whereit began. "After two years, I am back for the Goa Diocesan Priests playingwith the same enthusiasm and I am very happy today. I remember the time Icollapsed on the pitch two years ago. But I had complete faith in God and whenI was suggested by doctor to undergo the surgery 'wide-awake', I was ready forthat. I now have a mechanical valve in my heart. I consider my comeback as a'second innings or a new life'," a delighted Fr Bolmax sums up.
