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Thursday, November 9, 2000
Ewing not sure if his kidney matches
By Frank Hughes
Special to ESPN.com
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MIAMI -- Seattle SuperSonics center Patrick Ewing said on Tuesday that he
would donate one of his kidneys to Miami Heat center Alonzo Mourning, if it
came to that.
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| Mourning |
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| Ewing |
"You know I will always be there for him," said Ewing, in town for the
Sonics game with the Heat on Wednesday night. "If my kidney matches, I'll be
happy to donate one. If it comes down to that. He knows that."
Mourning is suffering from a kidney disorder that is forcing him to miss the
entire 2000-01 season. It is not yet known whether Mourning will need a kidney replacement. He is
sitting out the season to evaluate his status.
Ewing said he and Mourning have not yet approached doctors, or gone through
any tests to determine if he would be a match for Mourning, much as San
Antonio Spurs guard Sean Elliott's brother did for him when Elliott was
suffering from the same disease.
Mourning's ailment, focal glomerulosclerosis, will be treated initially with medication but could eventually require dialysis or a transplant. The disorder was discovered during a routine preseason physical after Mourning returned from Australia, where he helped the U.S. Olympic team win a gold medal.
"I haven't even talked to the doctors yet, but I'm just saying if it comes
down to that, if we match up, I'll be happy to give him one," Ewing said.
Ewing and Mourning have been friends since Mourning attended Georgetown,
which Ewing led to an NCAA championship in 1984.
They work out together in the summers, and Ewing is the godfather to
Mourning's newborn daughter, Sydney.
They spoke Monday when Ewing arrived in Miami and spent Wednesday at Mourning's home. Ewing's Sonics lost to the Mourning-less Heat 87-81 later Wednesday night.
Asked if they discussed donating his kidney, Ewing said, "No.
We spent the whole day together and we just talked about life.
"He's all right," the Seattle center said. "I was with him
all day today. He made me miss my nap."
Ewing was one of the first ones to call Mourning when Mourning was diagnosed
with the disorder in early October, after returning from the Olympics in
Sydney, Australia.
At the time, Ewing said Mourning cursed him out for feeling sorry for
Mourning.
"I spoke to him last night when I got in," said Ewing. "I told him I guess
you are back to normal because I called you two weeks ago and you just got
back to me."
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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