NBA All-Star Alonzo “Zo” Mourning Encourages Patients at PCH

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NBA All-Star Alonzo “Zo” Mourning Encourages Patients at PCH

February 19, 2009 · By EditorgravatarcloseAuthor: Editor Name: Kathee Austin
Email: editor@evliving.com
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‘Never Give Up’ is the message Mourning gave patients battling kidney disease at Phoenix Children’s Hospital

PHOENIX, Ariz. - NBA All-Star Alonzo Mourning is known across the world as one of the NBA’s most elite players. On Friday, Mourning visited Phoenix, Arizona for All-Star weekend and he made a special visit to the Department of Nephrology at Phoenix Children’s Hospital (PCH) - the largest treatment center in the Southwest for children with kidney disorders and high blood pressure.

The Department evaluates and treats patients with all kidney-related problems including blood or protein in the urine, kidney stones, recurrent urinary tract infections, congenital kidney diseases, chronic kidney failure, dialysis, and kidney transplantation.

Alonzo sat down with two dozen children who are currently suffering from a kidney disease. Both Alonzo and the children at PCH share a special bond. In 2003, Alonzo also battled a kidney disease and underwent a successful kidney transplant. Alonzo shared words of encouragement at PCH and explained how he returned to play for the Miami Heat and won the NBA Championship in 2006.

While sitting one-on-one with children waiting for kidney transplants, Mourning asked in a soft voice, “What is the one thing you can not do?” A young Hispanic boy said with a puzzled voice, “Give up?”  “My man,” Mourning responded while giving the young boy a high-five. “You’re right, you must never give up. There will be days when you have to fight to stay healthy. Also, it is very important for you to take your medications on time and listen to your doctors - even though you may not want to.”

    Mourning autographed basketballs for each patient and wrote a reminder message too, “Never give up!”

Mourning just announced his NBA retirement as center for the Miami Heat.

Nephrology Department at Phoenix Children’s Hospital
The Nephrology Department evaluates and treats patients with all kidney-related problems including blood or protein in the urine, kidney stones, recurrent urinary tract infections, congenital kidney diseases, chronic kidney failure, dialysis, and kidney transplantation. Phoenix Children’s comprehensive nephrology program includes Arizona’s only dedicated Pediatric Dialysis Center, providing inpatient and outpatient hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.  This health care team is one-of-a-kind in the region, allowing PCH to provide more than 90 percent of the pediatric kidney transplants, hemodialysis, and peritoneal dialysis in the Southwest.

About Phoenix Children’s Hospital
Phoenix Children’s Hospital is Arizona’s only licensed children’s hospital, providing world-class care in more than 40 pediatric specialties to our state’s sickest kids. Though Phoenix Children’s is one of the ten largest freestanding children’s hospitals in the country, rapid population growth in Arizona means the Hospital must grow as well. Phoenix Children’s recently announced a $588 million expansion plan to bring its special brand of family-centered care to even more patients and families. The plan includes a significant upgrade of the Hospital’s current campus, an aggressive physician recruitment effort, and new satellite centers in high growth areas of the Valley. For more information, visit the Hospital’s Web site at http://www.phoenixchildrens.com/.

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