Transplant gave Lomu new lease of life

ONE of the world’s greatest rugby players is putting his mighty weight behind the Irish Kidney Association’s campaign to get Ireland’s living kidney donor programme up and running.

New Zealand’s Jonah Lomu is attempting a comeback after undergoing a live kidney transplant from a friend in July 2004.

The giant winger said he feels fantastic and is dreaming of a comeback for the All Blacks.

“I don’t remember ever feeling well before the transplant and could not put in the kind of training that I am doing now,” he said yesterday.

Mr Lomu, 30, is currently playing with the Cardiff Blues but is due to return to play for the New Zealand first division provincial team North Harbour in June.

It was at the end of 1996 that Mr Lomu was diagnosed as having nephrotic syndrome, a rare and serious kidney disorder.

In May 2003, Mr Lomu was on dialysis three times a week due to a deterioration in his kidney function and doctors warned he faced life in a wheelchair if a kidney transplant was not performed soon.

Three close friends offered to donate their kidneys and each were found to be an exact match.

Mr Lomu selected Grant Kereama, a Wellington radio DJ and TV personality. Grant did not tell Mr Lomu he was having compatibility tests until doctors confirmed he was a match.

Mr Lomu announced his intention to train for his rugby union renaissance last June and believes that he has yet to play at his peak.

“This is the first time that I have felt really fit. It is such a huge difference,” he said.

Since Organ Donor Awareness week was launched last Saturday, there have been over 3,000 requests for donor cards by people who texted the word ‘donor’ and their name and address to 53377.

The cards are also available from pharmacies, doctors’ surgeries and Citizen Information Bureau offices.