He played at the Olympic Games in Pyeongchang 2018. He also played at the 2014 World Championships in Minsk. He became the best defender in the Czech Republic. He celebrated the championship title with Slovan last season. However, Juraj Valach will play the most demanding match at home. Every day.
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Photo: SITA, Marko Erd
Juraj Valach in the jersey of HC Slovan Bratislava.
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Six years ago, Simon’s pregnant wife died of a brain hemorrhage. To make matters worse, fate prepared another blow for the 202-centimeter-tall defender.
The gelding was worried about whether the premature twins Amálka and Jerguš would even survive. While the daughter is completely healthy, the son is severely handicapped.
It has a quadratic form of polio, in which all four limbs are affected.
“When my wife died, it was crazy. The hardest time in my life. When I knew she was just living after the collapse, I had a nervous breakdown.
Read more Valach’s message to Chomutov: You robbed my son of a million crowns
I hardly remember the first days. I woke up in the morning and ran to the hospital. The children were in neonatology, they were in the incubator for three months.
It looked like Jergušek would not survive. He was weak, they revived him several times. He will always depend on our help,” said Valach in an interview for MF Dnes.
The former defender of Chomutov, Komety Brno and Zvolen also founded the civic association UGI (ozugi.sk) to help his son. A few days ago, he auctioned his jersey from the 2018 Olympics for 1100 euros.
“Recently, Jergušek and I went on a trip to Pusta hora. I saw how happy he was to be in nature. Even a disabled child can touch the clouds. It was fine, just very strenuous.’
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You can’t go over rocks with a regular stroller, so you have to carry it with your child. So I decided to buy my son a special outdoor stroller that is made in Switzerland and the insurance company does not contribute to it.
So I asked for help in the auction. It was such a spontaneous idea, the auction only lasted nine hours.
That jersey has an incalculable value for me, representing Slovakia at the Olympics or the World Championships was the greatest. In the end, one gentleman bought the jersey for 1100 euros, amazing. I am grateful for any help,” Valach admitted.
He brings up children together with his parents. While he cuts on the ice, the parents take care of both of them. In the beginning it was not easy, but gradually they found the right system.
“Amálka will only have a year’s delay from school. She gets tired quickly while learning. Otherwise, she is completely healthy. We know that Jerguško will never walk or talk.
He has a damaged center of balance. He will never stand up or stand on his own two feet. He can only turn on his side or stomach.
The worst thing is that when you give him a hand, he has an effort to walk, his legs could do it, but he can’t explore the world. A small improvement is still possible. “
“When he has the playing field in front of him, he can press something, but it’s difficult for him. His movements are uncontrollable.
He may sometimes put something in his mouth himself, but he doesn’t stick anything on his fork or cut his meat. It would be nice if he could drink from a mug or bottle. That would be his maximum.
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