- NBA Hall of Famer Alonzo Mourning talks about his battle with kidney disease.
- After undergoing a kidney transplant in 2003, the legendary basketball player returned to the NBA in 2004.
- Mourners are leading the Power Forward campaign to spread awareness about genetic kidney disease.
Legendary NBA Hall of Famer Alonzo Mourning was a mainstay for Team USA at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. He helped the team win the gold medal.
However, during the Olympics, I began to feel swollen all over my body and lack energy.
“I had to go back and forth. [between Sydney and home] Because I had promised my wife at the time that I would be back for the birth of our daughter. [while flying] I discovered that I had nephritis. Her leg is swollen,” Momo told Healthline.
Olympic team doctors initially thought the swelling was caused by sitting on a plane for long periods of time, so Mourning was forced to compete.
However, during a regular medical checkup after the Olympics, an abnormality was discovered in his kidneys, and he was diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a rare kidney disease that causes protein leakage. This condition causes severe scarring and can lead to permanent kidney damage and kidney failure.
“As a professional athlete, it’s amazing what your body can do when you ignore things and train to get back out there and play. Because if you didn’t know what was going on in your body at the time, If he had, he probably wouldn’t have played.”
The mourner should be informed that his symptoms are caused by the APOL1 gene and that people with two copies of the gene with certain mutations may be at increased risk of developing APOL1-mediated kidney disease (AMKD). I knew. FSGS is one of her clinical manifestations of AMKD.
Although disease-causing risk variants do exist, Dr. Suzanne Nicholasmember of the American Society of Nephrology Steering Committee Initiatives for kidney health The APOL1 project said this does not mean that people with two risk variants will develop AMKD.
“Another activator will be needed, which is currently not fully understood, but may include inflammation or other environmental factors,” she told Healthline.
AMKD primarily affects people of African descent, she added. moreover, compared Compared to white Americans, Black or African-American people are more than three times more likely to develop kidney failure, and Hispanic or Latino Americans are 1.3 times more likely to develop kidney failure.
Dr. Nicholas advises patients of African descent, particularly West African or Afro-Caribbean descent, if they suspect they may be a carrier because they have a family history of AMKD or a family history of AMKD. recommended asking your doctor to test for APOL1 variants. Progressive kidney disease.
“Early detection allows people at risk of developing kidney disease to follow guidelines to reduce their risk of developing kidney disease under the direction of their doctor,” she said.
Dr. Maria DeVita“It is now relatively easy to send a saliva sample to one of two specialized laboratories for genetic testing,” said Lenox Hill Hospital’s director of nephrology.
Mourning was diagnosed with kidney disease and underwent genetic testing and was found to have APOL1.
“The only thing we can do is be an active participant and get tested…If we are tested, we can have understanding…and consult with our doctors to ensure our long-term health. It’s about thinking about how you can make the right decisions to keep the semester going.”
The mourner worked with his doctor to find the best way to manage his condition. There was no FDA-approved treatment for AMKD then or now.
“Treatment focuses on optimizing blood pressure and reducing proteinuria. [high levels of protein in urine] With medicine,” DeVita said.
Mourning, who weighs between 6 and 10 pounds and weighs 240 pounds, was a unique patient when she was first diagnosed.
“I was like a guinea pig for the doctors because they had never worked with someone my size before and they treated me the way they treated me. “Because there wasn’t one,” he said.
He underwent a kidney transplant in 2003 and missed the entire 2002-2003 season with the Miami Heat.
Although genetics contributed to his illness, it also saved his life.
“The great thing is that I had a living related donor. My second cousin (my grandmother’s brother’s son) was the one who donated his kidney to basically save my life. “,” said Mr. Mourning.
As far as he knows, he is the first in his family to have chronic kidney disease. He hopes that sharing his medical history with his family will help them stay healthy.
“Family history is very important, so everyone should ask questions among relatives if it remains in the family tree,” DeVita said.
For mourners, gaining knowledge about their condition helped ease their fears. He asked doctors to explain what they knew.
“[It’s] It’s no different than when you have to take a test and you walk into a classroom and you know you have to take a test but you don’t study. “Even if you’re scared, unsure, and know you’re going to fail, if you study for a test, you’ll be prepared and confident to take the test,” Momo said.
After being self-taught, he felt confident in facing his kidney disease and was ready to move forward with his life, and he did it to the best of his ability. He returned to the NBA in 2004 and led the Miami Heat to the world championship in 2006.
“And I started thinking about the other 37 million Americans who, statistically speaking, suffer from chronic kidney disease,” Mourni said.
Over time, the mourner felt empowered to help others facing kidney disease. In addition to his role as Vice President of Player Programs and Development for the Miami Heat, Mourning Family Foundationhe uses his free time to advocate for kidney health.
For his latest effort, he partnered with Vertex. power forward A campaign to raise awareness about AMKD.
“When you’re on this platform, [I’m] Encouraging millions of people around the world to take an active role in their own health. None of us can sit around and wait for someone else to do it for us. We all have to take the first step,” he said.
She hopes that by speaking up, others will learn about their family medical history, get genetic testing if needed, learn about kidney disease, and see their doctor regularly. I hope.
“You can’t wave a magic wand and expect something to happen. You have to actively participate and consult. [doctors] “To understand what’s going on with your body, especially if you have symptoms like the ones I was dealing with, like fatigue, lethargy, leg swelling,” Momo said.
He said those currently facing kidney disease need to dig deep, both physically and mentally.
“If you’ve given up mentally and you think you can’t help yourself, then I’m walking proof of that.” [that that’s not true] Because you just need to make all the necessary adjustments to your diet, exercise, drink enough water, and avoid salty foods. There are many things you can do to adjust as you gain experience. No matter what treatment the doctor gave you,” the lament said.
December 19, 2022 marks the 19th anniversary of Mourning’s kidney transplant. On that day, he will celebrate the importance of organ donation and recognize all the adjustments he has made over the years, including eating a primarily plant-based diet, exercising regularly and avoiding drugs.
“I hope we can celebrate our 19th anniversary again,” he said.
