Motivational

Alonzo Mourning:  NBA star, kidney disease patient and kidney advocate

You can call him, “Zo”. Alonzo Mourning is the 6’10” reserve center for the 2006 National Basketball Association (NBA) Championship team, the Miami Heat. While winning the championship was a special moment for everyone on his team, the accomplishment was even sweeter for Zo, who was forced to retire from the game in 2003 when sidelined with a kidney disease called focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS). His remarkable comeback to the game after a kidney transplant in 2003 is a testament to his winning spirit as an athlete and a human being.

Storied basketball career

The Chesapeake, Virginia native had been a record-breaking athlete since high school. After earning a degree in sociology and playing college ball at Georgetown University, Alonzo Mourning was the second pick in the 1992 NBA Draft, going to the Charlotte Hornets. After playing with the Hornets for three seasons, in 1995 he was traded to the Miami Heat, where he continued to excel. Zo was selected as an NBA All-Star seven times and Defensive Player of the Year in both 1999 and 2000. He represented the United States in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, bringing home a gold medal after going undefeated (8-0).

When Alonzo returned home from the Olympics his health took a turn. His kidneys were beginning to fail.

“I was physically exhausted, but that was expected,” states Alonzo, adding, “I played an entire NBA Season where, even though we were not able to win the Championship, I was named the Defensive Player of the Year. I took a little time off before going right back to work to represent my country in the 2000 Olympics where we won the gold. Also, during that time I flew home to witness the birth of my daughter before returning to Sydney for the Gold Medal game. When I got back, we were scheduled for our routine pre-season physicals with the team and that is how I was diagnosed.”

In October 2000, Alonzo was diagnosed with the kidney disease, focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS). He held a press conference along with his coach, Pat Riley, and his nephrologists to make the announcement about his kidney condition.

When people are young, healthy and, especially, athletic, there is the feeling that they are invincible. Zo recalls how he felt when he heard the news. “I was just coming off of one of my best seasons. I was not expecting the news that I received from the same routine team physical that I had taken so many times in the past. It was a shock, but I knew that I could not feel sorry for myself. My wife was with me when I got the news and through a lot of prayer we started to focus on what our next step had to be to beat kidney disease.”

Kidney disease:  focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS)

While in the U.S. chronic kidney disease typically comes about after years of having diabetes and/or high blood pressure, FSGS is a less common type of kidney disease that is usually diagnosed in people between 15- and 45-years old. More cases occur in African-American men than other segments of the population. This was the same kidney disease that affected another NBA star, Sean Elliott of the San Antonio Spurs. While doctors are sometimes able to determine a cause such as infection, drug use or AIDS, in some situations the reason for getting FSGS is unknown, or idiopathic; such is the case for Zo and Sean Elliott.

Typically it takes six to eight years for someone diagnosed with FSGS to reach end stage renal disease (ESRD) and require dialysis or a kidney transplant; although some people get to ESRD sooner and some maintain kidney function longer. In Alonzo’s case he was diagnosed during pre-season in 2000 and received a kidney transplant the end of 2003.

FSGS is a difficult type of kidney disease to diagnose. A kidney biopsy, where a needle is inserted into the kidney and a tiny sample is removed, is the best way to give a sure diagnosis.

Focal segmental glomerular sclerosis causes scarring in the glomeruli, the tiny blood vessels in the kidneys that filter the blood to make urine. Due to the scarring, the kidneys are no longer able to filter efficiently. In addition protein is able to leak from the blood into the urine, which is called proteinuria. In losing protein from the blood, the body retains sodium and fluid, which may cause swelling, or edema, in the ankles or abdomen, in addition to proteinuria (protein in the urine).

In many cases patients will have high blood pressure and anemia. Because healthy kidneys produce an enzyme for controlling blood pressure, when they become damaged it becomes difficult to keep blood pressure in a healthy range. The kidneys are also responsible for producing the hormone, erythropoietin, which signals the bone marrow to make red blood cells, so when kidneys are damaged anemia becomes a problem. In Zo’s case, he says, “I did not have an issue with high blood pressure, but I did suffer from anemia. I was tired all of the time and was not able to even complete every day tasks. Once diagnosed, I started taking Procrit® (a drug that stimulates red blood cell production to fight anemia) and that gave me my energy and my life back.” 

When someone is diagnosed with FSGS, the goal is to prolong kidney function as long as possible. Doctors may prescribe drugs called immunosuppressants that block the body’s immune system from attacking the kidneys. These drugs help stop proteinuria in about half of all patients; however, the symptom is likely to return when the drug treatment stops. High blood pressure medicine may also be prescribed to help slow the progression of kidney disease. A type of blood pressure medicine called ACE inhibitors has been shown to help preserve kidney function. In addition to medicines, doctors recommend a diet low in sodium and protein, along with practicing healthy habits such as exercise and not smoking. For some people FGSG can go into remission.

After Zo was diagnosed, he was able to rebound to play most of the games in the 2001-2002 season. “I was able to play those games after my diagnosis because I worked very hard on keeping my body healthy and created a very close relationship with my doctors. I listened to what they said and did everything they asked of me, and thankfully we saw my body respond to the medications. When I started playing that season, all of my blood tests were at a level that allowed me to compete. There were precautions that we needed to take (making sure I drank lots of water, did not play too long at one time, continued to speak regularly to my doctors), but with the help of my doctors and all of the training and medical staff of the Heat — I was able to compete back at a high level,” he says.

Kidney transplant — second chance

As a free agent in 2003, Zo had signed a four-year contract with the New Jersey Nets. By September 2003, Alonzo’s kidney disease had worsened. His team and personal doctors felt he was not healthy enough to play. 

On November 25, 2003, Zo announced his retirement from the game he loved. That same day, Zo’s cousin, Jason Cooper, was told that Zo needed a kidney transplant. Even though the cousins had not seen each other since they were children, Jason considered donating his kidney. After testing confirmed the match, Zo underwent kidney transplant surgery on December 19, 2003 and received one of Jason’s kidneys.

Zo reports that after the surgery, “The doctors were amazed at how quickly I rebounded from such an extensive surgery with my transplant. They said I was able to recover as well as I did because of the fact that I had my body in such good physical shape. With that said, I would be lying if I didn’t admit that it was a tough road. I never allowed myself to doubt the fact that I was going to come back. I truly feel that if I keep my mind strong, that my body will eventually follow. The reason I came back was because I knew that I had work to do. I knew that since I went through transplantation, it was my mission to touch other people’s lives through the pain that I had to go through. I have been able to use my experience to enlighten, provide hope and support to individuals who are battling all kinds of physical obstacles like kidney disease, cancer and diabetes. My experience on the court has helped lift other people’s lives.”

In 2004, Zo resumed playing for the Nets, but let it be known he wanted out of New Jersey and was traded to the Toronto Raptors at the end of the year. Zo didn’t report to the Raptors, and was bought out of his contract in February 2005. The next month he was playing once again for the Miami Heat, as reserve center after Shaquille O’Neal.

While his time on the court may have been reduced after coming back from kidney disease, his contributions were still powerful. Zo averages 5.46 blocked shots per 48 minutes of play, an NBA record. He is currently the all-time leader in points scored for the Miami Heat.  When asked if Alonzo would come back next season, he answered, “I have not made a decision on this yet. I feel like I still have the ability to compete and I am feeling great, but right now I am really focused on my charities and spending time with my family this summer.”

Giving back to the kidney disease community

When finding out he had kidney disease, Zo made a commitment to raise funds to fight FSGS. He began the Zo’s Fund for Life charity to provide money for kidney research, education and testing as well as to help provide medicines to patients who cannot afford them. Zo is currently working to get the word out to young, African-American men and others who may be at risk for kidney disease to learn the warning signs, live healthy and get tested regularly.

Zo shares, “When I was diagnosed with kidney disease, I immediately started collecting information on focal segmental glomerular sclerosis and realized that there is not much information out there for patients and their families. I am fortunate to have the platform of being a professional basketball player and being in the public eye and I feel that it is my obligation to utilize this to help other people who are suffering from kidney disease or other serious health issues. The education is not just for the patient, but my foundation Zo’s Fund for Life focuses on the education of doctors through funding research as well as educating patients and their families. To learn more about Zo’s Fund for Life, please visit us at www.zosfundforlife.org.”

Zo was also involved in the Rebound from Anemia program. He says, “When I was suffering from anemia, I was tired all of the time. I did not have energy to even play with my kids, let alone play basketball." Because Alonzo benefited from anemia-fighting drugs, he became part of the campaign to educate others about the quality-of-life improvements through treating anemia.

His generosity extends beyond kidney disease; he has long been an advocate for youth and helping children. Zo credits his foster mother, Fanny Threat, along with his biological parents and others who made a difference in his life for his generosity and caring. Alonzo Mourning Charities (AMC) has raised $6 million since 1997 and the AMC mission is “providing support and services to enhance the lives of youth of promise”. His wife Tracy Wilson Mourning founded The Honey Shine Mentoring Program in 2002 for young women ages 8 to 18 living in at-risk situations.

Regarding his desire to help kids, Alonzo says, “I have the passion to help kids because when I was a child, I can recall many different individuals in my life (parents, teachers, coaches, etc.) who contributed to my development as a child. I know that I would not be the person that I am today if it was not for those people who took the time to have an impact on my life. I am blessed to have the resources to give the same opportunities to other kids who otherwise would not be able to afford it. Each kid is a gift and I feel that so many of them just need the right opportunity to help them accomplish their full potential and one day be productive citizens and maybe even give the same gift to another child.”

Zo has a great outlook about life, now and for the future. He shares, “I look forward to spending time with my family and watching my children grow up. I am looking forward to getting older because I have seen 70-year-old women who have been practicing yoga for over 30 years and they have aged gracefully. I am looking forward to getting to that point and feeling good. It is a challenge and I always welcome a challenge."