Dundee United’s Luis Zwick admits it was one of the best days of his life when a doctor broke the news that he had overcome childhood epilepsy and could chase his dream of becoming a professional footballer.
The big German keeper first fell victim to the illness when he was just six.
He admits it was a scary experience for one so young however the problem finally went away nine years later, leaving the path clear for him to fulfil his sporting ambitions.
The 21-year-old, who will be between the sticks when United play Ross County in Dingwall this afternoon, said: “I had epilepsy when I was a child but it is not a problem for me now.
“I got it when I was six years old and it went away when I was 15.
“I was scared because I was very young and didn’t know what it was.
“I just grew out of it and haven’t had any problems with it since.
“But there was a time when it might have been a problem because when I was 10 or 11, a doctor told me it could be hard to play football.
“I was tired a lot of the time and he mentioned that I’d need to have a lot of medicals to be a footballer.
“But I never suffered from anything during a game and it is completely gone now.
“It was a huge relief when it went away the day the doctor told me was one of the best days of my life.
“It has been good for me mentally, it has made me stronger that would be the positive thing to come from it.”
Zwick came to Tannadice last summer as an amateur determined to win a professional contract, something he achieved when he was handed a two-year deal at the start of last month.
He has now established himself as United’s No.1 stopper this season but he admits he found it difficult to adjust at first to his new life in Scotland.
He said: “It was a big decision to come here but I made it because I knew I would get a chance here.
“I am the first choice at the moment and I’m happy with that.
“Coming here initially was hard because I was away from home and my English wasn’t good.
“I struggled to understand the Scottish accent and got homesick.
“But I learned English and things got better because I made friends and I’m now happy.
“I stay with Euan Spark, he is my flatmate, and I also have the likes of Charlie Telfer and Blair Spittal who have been good to me.
“I didn’t ever think about going home because I knew I was only here for one season then we’d look at it.
“So when they told me I’d be getting a new contract that was really good.”
He added: “I think I have done OK so far.
“Before the Celtic game last week I only knew their players from the television, but now I have played against them.
“Back in Germany the biggest crowd I had played in was in a youth cup final and there were maybe a couple of hundred of people there.
“At times I have to pinch myself and ask whether this is all true or whether it’s a dream.”
Zwick will be hoping he has a dream 90 minutes up in Dingwall today but he knows United are in for a difficult match.
He said: “Ross County will be a tough game, they played very well in their last match.
“We will have to fight hard and do better than we did against Hamilton a few weeks ago.
“They are good team and it will be a hard match, but I feel we can win.”