Alonzo Mourning to be voice of organ transplant program

[okarol]

Posted on Thu, Sep. 25, 2008

Alonzo Mourning to be voice of organ transplant program

By HOWARD COHEN

Alonzo Mourning, the Miami Heat center who received a kidney transplant in 2003, is turning his attention to raising awareness of organ transplantation. On Thursday, he officially signed on as spokesman for the Miami Transplant Institute at Jackson Memorial and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

''I'm a living testimony that transplants save lives,'' he said.

Since its founding in 1979, the Miami Transplant Institute has conducted 3,000 and 7,000 kidney transplants.

But Mourning knows the difficulty of getting a transplant, waiting for a suitable donor, and living with the detailed regimen and expensive medications once a transplant is completed.

Mourning said he was shocked by the cost of the medication alone - $1,000 a month. And while he can afford it, he knows many can't and the burden that can put on families.

''I had to push 200- to 300-pound men around the court, and that wasn't easy,'' he said. ``I can imagaine how a young child can feel to take these medications.

``With my voice and influence, I can draw attention to the Institute and help children overcome obstacles. Research will lead to beating the problems of organ rejection.''

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/701484.html

[flip]

You're talking about a well paid professional athlete who got a kidney from his cousin.