Ex-Steeler Kemoeatu recovering from kidney transplant

[stillers4me]

Former Steelers guard Chris Kemoeatu is recovering from a kidney transplant performed Aug. 27 at the University of Maryland Medical Center, the hospital said today. The living donor was his older brother Ma'ake, a former Baltimore Raven.

The transplant is expected to restore kidney function and eliminate Chris's need for dialysis, the hospital said in a news release.

Chris, drafted by the Steelers in the fifth round in 2006, was their starting left guard for four seasons until the Steelers demoted him halfway through the 2011 season. He was released in 2012.

While he was playing in the NFL, Chris battled the effects of a childhood illness that gradually weakened his kidneys, the hospital said. Ma'ake volunteered to donate a kidney and tests determined he was a good match...........

Read more @ http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2014/09/17/Ex-Steeler-Kemoeatu-recovering-from-kidney-transplant/stories/201409170187

[stillers4me]

Ma'ake retired from football to donate to Chris. Now THIS is news worthy.

[salamander]

Wow...best of luck to the Kemoeatus.

[GBMelBlount]

Both are in my thoughts and prayers.

[X-Terminator]

Awesome news amidst the sea of bad news surrounding the NFL. Best wishes to Kemo and Ma'ake.

[steelreserve]

Good luck to them both! They'll need it. The odds are not good for a 340-pound man with one kidney, so for both their sakes, I hope they manage to pull of an Alan Fancea-like transformation.

[86WARD]

Awesome news amidst the sea of bad news surrounding the NFL. Best wishes to Kemo and Ma'ake.

This

[stillers4me]

In early 2013, Chris met with Dr. Matthew Weir, a nephrologist at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Chris learned then that he had advanced kidney disease and needed a transplant. Ma’ake immediately said he would be the donor. And he was a 99% match.

“The doctor said we could pass as twins to do this surgery,” Ma’ake said. “My dad wanted to do it, and we kind of got into it because I didn’t want him to do it. I’m the oldest of seven kids so it was my responsibility to take care of my younger brothers and sisters.

“If my brother or any of my siblings needed blood, they have to have my blood. If any of my siblings needed a kidney, it would have to be my kidney.”
Ma’ake had to pause for a second as tears welled in his eyes.

“My dad wanted to do it so bad,” he said. “I had to stop him. But the credit goes to my brother because he had so many flare ups. He had to go into training camp and had to fight through the pain and get ready for the season."

In order to have a successful transplant, both brothers needed to lose weight, which took some time. Chris was unable to workout, so he had to go through dialysis. And he hated it...........

Read more @ http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/09/baltimore-ravens-maake-kemoeatu-gives-kidney-pittsburgh-steelers-chris-kemoeatu

[BigNastyDefense]

That should be the opening news segment on EVERY sports newscast in the country.

Prayers to them both.

[Jaucer]

That should be the opening news segment on EVERY sports newscast in the country.

Prayers to them both.

This. But you won't see. If anything it will be buried at the bottom of any new cast. It's so sad that good deeds get no attention but bad ones get all the attention. Part of what is totally screwed up in our society and part of the reason some people do bad things. It gets them the notoriety the crave. As I said in another thread it's the reason I don't watch tv, too much bad news/negativity. The negativity eventually gets into you and you loose hope. I'd much rather feed off of the positive things in life.