Former Miami Heat and New Jersey Nets center Alonzo Mourning is scheduled to undergo kidney transplant surgery in New York on Friday, two sources reported to the Miami Herald.
Mourning suffers from focal glomerulosclerosis, and complications from this kidney disease forced him to retire from basketball on Nov. 24. In the meantime, reports the newspaper, the 33-year-old Mourning has been actively searching for a matching kidney donor.
Since he announced his retirement, Mourning has received several offers from potential donors. In the week after Mourning left the Nets, The Associated Press reported that the Kidney and Urology Foundation of America received nearly 60 calls in just two days from people who wanted to donate a kidney to Mourning specifically. It is believed surgeons will use a kidney from one of these donors for Mourning's transplant, according to the Herald. The 1992 first-round draft pick out of Georgetown was diagnosed with the kidney condition in Oct. 2000. Mourning tried to play through the disease, playing 88 games with Miami from 2001-02, then another 12 games this season with the Nets. While playing in New Jersey, Mourning averaged nearly 18 minutes and eight points per game.
Former San Antonio Spur Sean Elliott, who underwent kidney transplant surgery in 1999 and made an NBA comeback, told the Miami Herald that it is possible Mourning could feel good enough to attempt a comeback himself -- but only if he is completely healthy.
"I'm sure it's going to cross his mind," Elliott told the newspaper. "I definitely wanted to play, but I wanted to make sure I was 100 percent healthy before I even thought about it. And I'm sure he's going to do the same thing and make sure he's healthy."
Though Elliott suggested Mourning should immediately feel better after the transplant, there is a chance the center's 6-foot-10, 261 pound body could reject the new kidney. "The recovery part was amazing for me," Elliott said. "After I got out of [intensive care], I had so much energy it was like someone turned a light on. My biggest obstacle was trying to control the activity.
"I wanted to get going. Two weeks out of the hospital I was walking up stairs at a good rate."
NBA.Com.
wil.
Mourning suffers from focal glomerulosclerosis, and complications from this kidney disease forced him to retire from basketball on Nov. 24. In the meantime, reports the newspaper, the 33-year-old Mourning has been actively searching for a matching kidney donor.
Since he announced his retirement, Mourning has received several offers from potential donors. In the week after Mourning left the Nets, The Associated Press reported that the Kidney and Urology Foundation of America received nearly 60 calls in just two days from people who wanted to donate a kidney to Mourning specifically. It is believed surgeons will use a kidney from one of these donors for Mourning's transplant, according to the Herald. The 1992 first-round draft pick out of Georgetown was diagnosed with the kidney condition in Oct. 2000. Mourning tried to play through the disease, playing 88 games with Miami from 2001-02, then another 12 games this season with the Nets. While playing in New Jersey, Mourning averaged nearly 18 minutes and eight points per game.
Former San Antonio Spur Sean Elliott, who underwent kidney transplant surgery in 1999 and made an NBA comeback, told the Miami Herald that it is possible Mourning could feel good enough to attempt a comeback himself -- but only if he is completely healthy.
"I'm sure it's going to cross his mind," Elliott told the newspaper. "I definitely wanted to play, but I wanted to make sure I was 100 percent healthy before I even thought about it. And I'm sure he's going to do the same thing and make sure he's healthy."
Though Elliott suggested Mourning should immediately feel better after the transplant, there is a chance the center's 6-foot-10, 261 pound body could reject the new kidney. "The recovery part was amazing for me," Elliott said. "After I got out of [intensive care], I had so much energy it was like someone turned a light on. My biggest obstacle was trying to control the activity.
"I wanted to get going. Two weeks out of the hospital I was walking up stairs at a good rate."
NBA.Com.
wil.
I'm happy for Zo....definitely a good guy BUT it sucks that most kidney patients have to wait and suffer for a long period of time before they can find a donor (if they find one) while Zo finds one in a few days.
When I die I hope my organs find their way into someone who can use them..except my liver.
When I die I hope my organs find their way into someone who can use them..except my liver.
swami- I was thinking the exact same thing that you were. This sounds like organ selling to me. I didn't know that was legal. Even if the donor didn't receive anything for the organ, I thought there was a waiting list that all potential kidney recipients had to be on and their category of illness was rated and the most critical got the kidney first.
Something isn't quite right with this situation.
Something isn't quite right with this situation.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by soccerbob:
swami- I was thinking the exact same thing that you were. This sounds like organ selling to me. I didn't know that was legal. Even if the donor didn't receive anything for the organ, I thought there was a waiting list that all potential kidney recipients had to be on and their category of illness was rated and the most critical got the kidney first.
Something isn't quite right with this situation.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Nah Bob, you are reading too much into it. There is some sort of waitlist but if the patient can "find" a donor then the testing and operation will be done. My grandfather was in a car accident and passed away years ago from complications associated with kidney disease.
I'm sure Zo received a few "offers" but my guess is that there were dozens of star struck Heat, Nets, and Hoya fans willing to give Zo a kidney for free.
No organ selling but certainly another example of why stars aren't like the rest of us. In some cases even being rich or having money is not enough to solve problems like these.
FWIW, I would have been more sickened if some rat bastard got the kindney...at least it was a good guy. Can't believe I'm saying this about Zo given that I'm a Redmen (Red Storm) and Knicks fan.
swami- I was thinking the exact same thing that you were. This sounds like organ selling to me. I didn't know that was legal. Even if the donor didn't receive anything for the organ, I thought there was a waiting list that all potential kidney recipients had to be on and their category of illness was rated and the most critical got the kidney first.
Something isn't quite right with this situation.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Nah Bob, you are reading too much into it. There is some sort of waitlist but if the patient can "find" a donor then the testing and operation will be done. My grandfather was in a car accident and passed away years ago from complications associated with kidney disease.
I'm sure Zo received a few "offers" but my guess is that there were dozens of star struck Heat, Nets, and Hoya fans willing to give Zo a kidney for free.
No organ selling but certainly another example of why stars aren't like the rest of us. In some cases even being rich or having money is not enough to solve problems like these.
FWIW, I would have been more sickened if some rat bastard got the kindney...at least it was a good guy. Can't believe I'm saying this about Zo given that I'm a Redmen (Red Storm) and Knicks fan.
Alonzo Mourning Out of hospital already after Kidney transplant. ESPN.News. btw. His cousin donated a kidney for the operation:
Story about transplant.
Saturday, December 20, 2003
BY BRAD PARKS
Star-Ledger Staff
Alonzo Mourning underwent a successful kidney transplant yesterday at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia, less than one month after kidney disease forced his retirement from the Nets.
According to a hospital spokesman, Mourning and the cousin who donated the kidney were in good condition.
"Alonzo asks that all those who offered to donate a kidney to him extend that generosity to others who are waiting for transplants," Mourning's agent, Jeff Wechsler, said in a statement. "He appreciates all the well wishes and encouragement he has received from fans all around the world, and asks that the public respect his privacy during the recovery process."
Mourning is expected to be in the hospital from five to eight days, then return to his home in Bergen County.
Nets coach Byron Scott said he spoke with Mourning a few days ago.
"I told him our prayers are with him," Scott said. "He's still a member of this team. And when we get some time, my wife and I are going to go visit him.
"This is somebody I'll never forget. He's a big-time inspiration to myself and a lot of guys in that locker room."
The next step for Mourning, who suffered from focal glomerulosclerosis, will be large doses of anti-rejection medicine. Rejection occurs in roughly one in five transplants.
Still, with the apparent success of the surgery, Scott was asked whether Mourning might follow in the footsteps of Sean Elliott, who made a comeback to the NBA after receiving a kidney from his brother.
"Knowing the competitor Zo is, I'm sure there's going to be a point in time when he thinks about it," Scott said. "The guy is extremely strong mentally and physically, and this is in his blood, this is what he does. And he's been doing it for so long, he just can't give it up. I'm sure he'll think about it again."
Scott did not say whether he would encourage Mourning to return.
"You would want to uncover every rock to make sure what he's doing is a logical decision," Scott said. "He's a grown man. At the end of the day he's going to do what he wants to do."
Story about transplant.
Saturday, December 20, 2003
BY BRAD PARKS
Star-Ledger Staff
Alonzo Mourning underwent a successful kidney transplant yesterday at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia, less than one month after kidney disease forced his retirement from the Nets.
According to a hospital spokesman, Mourning and the cousin who donated the kidney were in good condition.
"Alonzo asks that all those who offered to donate a kidney to him extend that generosity to others who are waiting for transplants," Mourning's agent, Jeff Wechsler, said in a statement. "He appreciates all the well wishes and encouragement he has received from fans all around the world, and asks that the public respect his privacy during the recovery process."
Mourning is expected to be in the hospital from five to eight days, then return to his home in Bergen County.
Nets coach Byron Scott said he spoke with Mourning a few days ago.
"I told him our prayers are with him," Scott said. "He's still a member of this team. And when we get some time, my wife and I are going to go visit him.
"This is somebody I'll never forget. He's a big-time inspiration to myself and a lot of guys in that locker room."
The next step for Mourning, who suffered from focal glomerulosclerosis, will be large doses of anti-rejection medicine. Rejection occurs in roughly one in five transplants.
Still, with the apparent success of the surgery, Scott was asked whether Mourning might follow in the footsteps of Sean Elliott, who made a comeback to the NBA after receiving a kidney from his brother.
"Knowing the competitor Zo is, I'm sure there's going to be a point in time when he thinks about it," Scott said. "The guy is extremely strong mentally and physically, and this is in his blood, this is what he does. And he's been doing it for so long, he just can't give it up. I'm sure he'll think about it again."
Scott did not say whether he would encourage Mourning to return.
"You would want to uncover every rock to make sure what he's doing is a logical decision," Scott said. "He's a grown man. At the end of the day he's going to do what he wants to do."
