Upon being alerted of Andres Uyaban's dire need of a heart transplant — the boy has a rare blood type, according to Eurosport — Manchester United's Radamel Falcao took to Facebook to spread the word. 'Help us get a new heart for John Andres, a 17-year-old kid with all the desire to keep fighting."
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The teenager had been on a waiting list for two years before the striker caught wind of his case. Ten days following Falcao's message, they found a donor.
"I give thanks to God and Falcao – he’s related to some cousins of mine who talked first to his father (Radamel Garcia) seeking his help in this effort," said Uyaban's mother, Sara Fernandez. "I always had that hope that Falcao would help us because he’s a public figure. Everyone listens to him and he’s also very humble and really believes in God."
Falcao announced on Facebook that Uyaban's surgery was successful and he is said to be responding well to the transplant. He is expected to be released from the hospital in three weeks.
The impact athletes have on lives around the world is tremendous.