Alonzo Mourning and his donor were reported in stable condition Friday night at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City after kidney transplant surgery.
Dr. Marc Bessler performed the surgery to remove the kidney from the donor, an unidentified relative of Mourning’s who was a good match with his blood group and met other organ-compatibility factors.
Mourning’s surgeon was Dr. Mark Hardy, according to a statement issued by the hospital.
Mourning, 33, an NBA All-Star seven times in his 12-year career, announced his retirement from the New Jersey Nets on Nov. 24 after doctors told him his kidney function had dangerously deteriorated.
Considering former San Antonio Spurs forward Sean Elliott returned within a year of a kidney transplant, Nets coach Byron Scott was asked Friday about such a possibility for Mourning.
“Knowing the competitor, the fighter that he is, I’m sure there’s going to be a point in time that it crosses his mind again,” Scott said.
Scott said such a request would lead to significant deliberations on his part and the parts of others.
“I would want to try to get every possible scenario,” he said. “I would want to know everything from the doctors … what’s the risk. You would want to uncover every rock to make sure the decision he makes is a logical decision.”
Scott, however, said Mourning had not broached the subject since leaving the Nets last month due to the deterioration in his condition.
“Since Zo has left,” he said, “we never talked about basketball.”
Elliott said Friday that shortly after his transplant, he felt a return was a possibility.
“My body really responded to the transplant,” he said in his role as an ESPN television analyst. “Then you have to listen to the doctors.”
Dr. Daniel Shoskes, director of kidney transplantation at Cleveland Clinic Florida in Weston, is not familiar with the specifics of Mourning’s case but said recovery time for a living-donor recipient in otherwise good health is typically between four and seven days in the hospital. He also said kidney transplants generally have a good success rate.
Mourning’s illness, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, was diagnosed in October 2000. FSGS, as it is known, inhibits the kidneys’ ability to filter waste from the blood. Symptoms can include swelling of the face and the extremities and a loss of muscle tone.
More than 55,000 Americans are waiting for a donated kidney, but people who have a family member who is a good match and is willing to donate do not have to wait.
Miami Heat assistant coach Keith Askins said the donor’s courage shouldn’t be overlooked.
“I’m happy for him and happy for his family and the courageous person that was willing to sacrifice a kidney for him,” he said. “Thank God for that.”
In New Jersey, Mourning’s Nets teammates–he remains on the roster and under contract–expressed similar hopes and thoughts.
“He’s at the first step of a major recovery,” forward Richard Jefferson said, “and we’ll continue to pray for him.”
Mourning’s agent, Jeffrey R. Wechsler, issued a statement saying his client appreciates all the well wishes: “Alonzo asks that all those who offered to donate a kidney to him extend that generosity to others who are waiting for transplants.”
