“I looked death in the eyes”

On December 28, 1999, Frycer underwent a liver transplant at the Innsbruck University Hospital. On February 10, 2000, it appeared in the “Sport-Journal” of the daily newspaper Dolomites Under the title “Looking Death in the Eyes” is an interview by Kurt Platter with the former exceptional player and successful coach, who left his mark above all as a person. Below, s+ presents the entire interview from back then. “Looking death in the eyes” Miroslav Frycer was almost always the center of attention in his life. First as a player in the NHL, then as a coach in Bruneck and Meran, where he became Serie A champion straight away. Liver cirrhosis, diagnosed in the fall of 1999, and the successful transplant of the vital organ completely changed the 41-year-old motivational artist's life. In the following “Sport-Journal” interview he speaks without shame about the illness he defeated and the hardest hours of his life.

When did you first become aware of the disease?

“It was more than two years ago. During a routine checkup, the doctors told me that there was something wrong with my liver. But because I never had any pain or problems, I paid little attention to these statements. Last summer the situation became increasingly worse. Yellow eyes were the first sign of liver cirrhosis. When I came to Meran in September and started preparing for the season, things got even worse. In addition to the poorly functioning liver, persistent stomach bleeding weakened me. I didn't eat anything for a week and lost a lot of blood. The large accumulations of water in my body did the rest. A hospital stay was unavoidable. After a few days in Meran Hospital, the situation improved slightly. Because I really wanted to be there for the season opener against Asiago, I decided not to seek medical attention at my own risk and returned to the gang. A first big mistake.”

Why?

“My health became more and more critical. At the beginning of October I decided to have myself examined in Innsbruck. Professor Vogel told me point-blank that I would have another year to live if I didn’t undergo a transplant.”

“Other NHL professionals took hard drugs, I drank alcohol. That was my drug.” Miroslav Frycer What were the causes of your illness?

“The investigations have shown that it was not just alcohol that was the main reason for liver cirrhosis. I was under pressure for years in the NHL. My aggressive style of play and the many checks took a big toll on my back. To relieve some of the pain from my worn out spine, I took various painkillers. For example, even though I was only allowed to take one suppository a week, I needed five of them every day to be able to walk straight. Of course, alcohol consumption and my poor lifestyle also took a toll on my liver. While other players turned to hard drugs, my drug was alcohol.”

<a data-caption="Dieses Foto wurde am 13. April 1999 in der Bozner Eiswelle gemacht, als der HC Meran den 2. Italienmeistertitel gewann. Hansjörg Brunner (links) und Miroslav Frycer waren die Baumeister des Meraner Triumphs. Der Präsident verstarb am 5. September 2020 im Alter von 73 Jahren, der Trainer am 27. April 2021 im Alter von 61 Jahren. © Max Pattis" data-fancybox="inline-76375" target="_image" href="https://s3-images.sportnews.bz/_images/scale/1280x1280/img/2021/04/dieses-foto-wurde-am-13-april-1999-in-der-bozner-eiswelle-gemacht-als-der-hc-meran-den-2-italienmeistertitel-gewann-hansjoerg-brunner-links-und-m.jpg"> This photo was taken on April 13, 1999 in the Bolzano Eiswelle when HC Meran won the 2nd Italian championship title. Hansjörg Brunner (left) and Miroslav Frycer were the architects of the Merano triumph. The president died on September 5, 2020 at the age of 73, the coach on April 27, 2021 at the age of 61. © Max Pattis

What happened next?

“After a few days of outpatient care in Innsbruck, thanks to the right medicine, I lost my temper and was put on the transplant waiting list. This was the beginning of the worst phase. Waiting for a phone call every day was exhausting me. I knew it could take days, months, or even years until there was a suitable donor liver for me. The organ had to come from a tall person (Frycer is 1,85 meters tall, editor's note) and have the rare blood type B. Every time my cell phone rang, I was paralyzed. I thought I was prepared for it. However, that wasn’t the case.”

But they still continued to work as trainers...

“That was the difficult thing. I always had my cell phone with me on the ice. I couldn't concentrate at work. Of course, this situation also had a big influence on my behavior towards the players. I wasn't the Miro Frycer as everyone knew him. Fear was mixed with aggressiveness, from which the team suffered.”

“Brian Lefley popped into my head.” Miroslav Frycer When did the call come?

“After spending Christmas with my wife and son Mike in Augsburg, I returned to Meran on December 26th. In the evening the game against Varese was on the agenda. Due to the snow chaos, the guests arrived in Merano almost two hours late. Just before warm-up, my phone suddenly rang. The cell phone reception in the cabin was so bad that I couldn't understand who was on it. When my wife stood in front of me minutes later and told me that we had to go to Innsbruck, I was fed up. The shock was deep and quickly spread to the entire team. Because I had to be in the operating room within six hours, quick action was required. Together with my wife and Mike, Giulio Pallaver accompanied me to Innsbruck.”

What was going through your mind on the journey?

“Every minute lasted like an hour. After Mike fell asleep crying on my lap, there was complete silence in the car. Confused things kept running through my head. It was a journey into the unknown. I looked death in the eyes. Funnily enough, Brian Lefley, who first won the championship with Meran and then lost his life in a car accident, popped into my head. Should the same fate befall me?”

When were you on the operating table?

“The wild blowing snow made it impossible to drive quickly. After four hours we were finally in Innsbruck, where I had to wait for some time. After completing the paperwork and preparing for surgery, I went under the knife in the early hours of the morning. The operation took six hours.”

Miroslav Frycer was most recently the coach at HC Orli Znojmo. © APA / EXPA/THOMAS HAUMER

How did the operation go?

“A short time later the doctor appeared and said that a hole in the new organ and a bruise would require a second operation. My supposed death sentence. Without strength, I said goodbye to my crying wife and woke up again after five and a half hours. With the last of my strength and will, I survived this operation too.”

The worst was over...

“Yes, that's true, although the first few days after the operation were groundbreaking for the future. My numbers were improving every hour and after the first three days had passed without any complications, the doctors assured me that I was out of the woods.”

What did you feel afterwards?

“During the three weeks in the Innsbruck clinic I had a lot of time to think: about my life, my family, my job. As an athlete, you don't always only experience the bright side of life, but also the dark side. I almost lost my job and family because of my drinking and poor lifestyle. It was clear to me: God had already knocked on the door and given me a new chance that I wanted to take advantage of now. A new life has begun for me in which I can have fun without alcohol. I'm finally free of that "but" that people always put after my name: "Frycer is a good trainer, but he drinks," which I often had to listen to."

“God gave me a second chance. I will use it.” Miroslav Frycer Who do you have to thank most at this stage?

“First and foremost, I have to thank my wife, who stuck by me despite everything and always stood by me. I will be forever grateful to HC Meran, primarily Hansjörg Brunner, Giulio Pallaver and the team. Everyone showed class in this situation, for which I will be associated with them for the rest of my life. I realized who my real friends are. The people I shopped with every day prayed for me. Life has a completely different meaning now. Nothing can scare me anymore.”

“The biggest thank you? My wife" Miroslav Frycer How were you received in Meran after a month?

“The return was great. The players surprised me with a cake. My cabin door was decorated with balloons. Every player hugged me. I will never forget how they played the games in my absence with my initials 'MF' on their helmets, as a symbol of being in their midst. When I stepped onto the ice, I felt goosebumps all over my body. It was crazy.”

And then the victory over HC Bozen...

“This victory was extremely important. Above all for the morale and self-confidence of my players, who wanted to prove to me with their last effort that they are a compact team hungry for victory. In this condition, anything is possible as the championship progresses. The final won’t take place until mid-April.”

Interview: Kurt Platter

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“I looked death in the eyes”

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