Three weeks before his tenth birthday, Sigi Meschnig from Tumeltsham received a new lung and a new heart. 25 years later, he is still as fit as a fiddle and wins big at the World and European Championships for transplant patients every year. A look back to 1998: “I suddenly had no fitness. Somehow it got worse and worse,” says Meschnig, who works as a designer at a large company. One investigation after another followed. In the end the diagnosis was “pulmonary hypertension”. In January 1999, after several procedures, including in Linz, had to be canceled, Meschnig was taken to a clinic in Munich. Meschnig’s condition worsened day by day. Luckily for the then nine-year-old, suitable organs arrived quicker than expected. “It was great luck that the heart and lungs fit and were accepted so well by the body,” says the Innviertel native.
Meschnig undergoes a “big check” in Munich twice a year and has his blood taken once a month. When asked whether he was nervous about the extensive medical examinations, the 35-year-old answered with a short “no”.
In July, the designer flew to Lisbon for the European Championships for Transplants. It was Meschnig’s eleventh participation in a world or European championship since 2012. His trips to major events took him to Australia, Argentina and South Africa, among others. There is now financial support from the Ministry of Sports for flights and hotels for the trips. “We are extremely grateful for that and hope that it stays that way,” says Meschnig, who is also supported by regional sponsors such as Tech3, Hörmanseder Bau, Hausleitner & Schweitzer GmbH, Josko, Raiffeisenbank and the Vario-Center.
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Source: Nachrichten
