Hristo Stoichkov, Bulgaria's most internationally renowned football player, made the dreams of a very sick boy come true on Wednesday, when he surprised 13-year-old Tanyo in hospital, just weeks after his liver transplantation.

Tanyo Kostov was blessed with a second chance at life after Bulgarian authorities and Sofia-based hospital Lozenets pooled their efforts to rescue the boy from Athens, where he lives with his family.

Beset by the Wilson disease, a genetic disorder that prevents the body from getting rid of extra copper, the boy fell into coma last month. The only chance for life was a liver transplantation, which however the Greek doctors refused to do since there were no matching dead donors.

Unlike Greece however Bulgaria makes liver transplantations from live donors, which is why the boy was urgently flown to Sofia with the assistance of Bulgaria's embassy in Athens and the government.

A team from Sofia-based University Hospital for Active Treatment Lozenets committed to the risky operation, a daunting task for any surgeon. The moral burden on the doctors' backs got heavier after the father agreed to become a donor so that his son may live.

"The surgery was a big challenge for us, not only because it is very complicated and risky. The biggest moral dilemma I faced was posed by the healthy father, who without hesitation agreed to donate half of his liver. That was a great challenge and responsibility for us," Dr. Lyubomir Spasov, head of the Lozenets University Hospital, shared.

The chance for Tanyo to survive was less than 10%, but the medics decided to take the risk.

Less than a month after the lifesaving procedure, Tanyo, with a wide and welcoming smile on his face, stood before reporters at a press conference on January 18, next to his idol Stoichkov.

Stoichkov had gotten wind of Tanyo's plight, and, hearing that his dream was to one day meet him, hooked up with the government and the hospital to make this dream come true.

"This is the least I can do. There is no greater award for me than to see one little child, now that he has a second chance at life, happy again," an emotional Stoichkov told reporters.

In addition to spending a genuine amount of time with Tanyo, the football legend presented him with a few precious gifts that may ignite envy in any football fan - a T-shirt of the national team, a present from the great Pele, a football ball and shoes.

"Bulgaria should be proud that it has doctors who have saved the life of this boy and fathers, who dare to risk their lives so that their children can live. This is the biggest success any nation can achieve," Stoichkov said.

Also in attendance were Tanyo's father, who became his donor, mother and little sister.

"I want to thank the team and the whole hospital for saving the life of my son, for doing two risky operations on my son and my husband and for having them both alive here with me," the mother said, as she broke down, overwhelmed by tears.

For his new life the boy has just one wish.

"When I grow up, I want to become a football player, just like Hristo Stoichkov."

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