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Alonzo Mourning
NBA All-Star
A lot of people are more concerned about what type of gas they put in their car than what they put in their mouths. And it's extremely important that we pay attention to our diets.
Q: How are you doing since your kidney transplant?
I'm feeling great. I kind of built a base for myself, just keeping myself in great shape over all those years, and the doctors have credited my recovery, my fast recovery, to the fact that I've kept myself in such great condition. And technology has advanced so much over the years, that the surgical procedure is a little bit different-a little less stressful on the body.
Q: What do you say to people about the challenges they face with kidney disease or anemia when they don't have the deep pockets that Alonzo Mourning has?
You can stay very much aware of what you put in your mouth. The fried foods, the sodium intake. Take the salt shaker off the dinner table. Those are things that attribute to the heart disease and the high blood pressure. Those are the little things that you can take care of yourself as well as the activities, staying physically fit, staying active. Cutting back on your alcohol intake or cutting out smoking. All those things that we do to damage our bodies, we can do that ourselves. We don't need a whole lot of money to do those things.
Seven-time NBA All-Star Alonzo Mourning is known for his toughness. In October '00, he was diagnosed with a rare degenerative kidney disease. In '03, he underwent a successful kidney transplant and is now focused on getting better and raising awareness.
Related Episodes
Recommended Web Sites
The American Association of Kidney Patients helps kidney patients and their families deal with the physical, emotional and social impact of kidney disease.
The American Kidney Fund provides financial assistance to kidney patients in need and education for those with and at risk for kidney disease.
KidneyResource includes a comprehensive listing of sites for those whose lives are touched by kidney disease.
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Published: September 15, 2005
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