Transplant Chronicles Volume 7, Number 4 A publication for transplant recipients of all organs and their families, Spring 2000 published by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc. In the Game L ast spring, when Sean to let his battle with kidney Elliott made one of the most disease diminish his drive as a dynamic plays in San Antonio player. Spurs history, neither fans nor rivals realized what a truly “I just felt I had a responsibility remarkable athlete they were to the team,” said Elliott in a watching. He had only recently recent story with the Austin- returned to play from a sidelin- American Statesman. “It’s been ing knee injury. Elliott was also something I’ve been living with fighting a degenerative kidney for a while, so I really didn’t let it disease that was robbing him creep into my mind that much.” of his strength and threatening Photo credit NBA Photos According to Spurs coach Gregg his life. Sean Elliott—before Popovich, Elliott deserves a lot of surgery—playing to win. respect for the obstacles he has Elliott, 31, began his NBA His career and his scoring overcome. “Hopefully, people will career upon graduation from the average have risen steadily. As a have an even greater respect for University of Arizona in 1989, starter on the 1999 NBA what this young man has done, when he was selected by the Championship team, Elliott given the circumstances under Spurs as the third overall pick of made a key play in the final which he had to do it.” the NBA draft. A native of seconds of game two of the 1999 Tucson, he finished his college Western Conference Semi-finals Family has always been an career as the all-time leading against the Portland, important part of Elliott’s life. scorer in Pacific Athletic Trailblazers. It was Elliott’s Growing up, Sean and his Conference history. During the three-point shot that gave the brother Noel, now 32, 1992-1993 season, he was one Spurs the win. Most of his encountered typical sibling of the best all-around players in teammates did not know Elliott rivalry but have always his league and was on the was quite ill when he pulled depended on one another. Sean Western Conference All-Star them to victory. He had been acted as Noel’s high school Team. After being traded to the diagnosed in 1994 with focal basketball tutor when the older Detroit Pistons in 1993, he segmental glomerulorsclerosis, Elliott had trouble concentrating. returned to San Antonio in a disease that prevents the The pair’s lifetime of camaraderie 1994. kidneys from properly filtering waste from the blood. He refused Continued on page 3 transAction! Transplant Chronicles is a COUNCIL Program of the National Kidney Foundation, Inc., supported by Pharmaceuticals Corporation National Kidney Foundation ✍ editor’s desk Transplant Chronicles H appy New Year to you all. Transplant Chronicles is published by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc. Hope you survived the busy holiday Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the position of the National Kidney Foundation, Inc. months and are now deep into your Editor-in-Chief: New Year’s resolutions. If you are Beverly Kirkpatrick, MSW, LSW like most, one of the resolutions St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children Philadelphia, Pennsylvania probably revolved around diet and Editors: exercise. And if you are like me, Ira D. Davis, MD Vanessa Underwood, BS, you are finding yourself slipping at Rainbow Babies Children’s AFAA, ACE Beverly Kirkpatrick Hospital Fitness Trainer/Wellness this point. Some articles in this Cleveland, Ohio Consultant issue may get you back on track. Maurie Ferriter, BS Plaistow, New Hampshire NKF of Michigan Jim Warren, MS Lakeland, Michigan Transplant News Politically, a major breakthrough for transplant Janet Karlix, PhD San Francisco, California patients occurred since our last issue. See page 13 University of Florida Becky Weseman, RD, for details. A big THANKS goes out to everyone who Gainesville, Florida CNSD, LMNT Teresa Shafer, RN, MSN, CPTC University of Nebraska helped to get this bill supported! Life Gift Organ Donation Center Omaha, Nebraska Ft. Worth, Texas Laurel Williams Todd, RN, MSN This is the year of the Games. The U.S. Transplant Charlie Thomas, CISW, ACSW University of Nebraska MC Samaritan Transplant Services Organ Transplant Games that is! I hope many of you are all set to Phoenix, Arizona Omaha, Nebraska descend on sunny Florida. The NKF is working hard R. Patrick Wood, MD and is very excited about taking the Games to GALA Editorial Office: Houston, Texas Disney. It will be impossible not to have a great National Kidney Foundation, Inc. time!! I will be sharing the experience with 30 young 30 E. 33rd Street, New York, NY 10016 (800) 622-9010/(212) 889-2210 transplant recipients from the Philadelphia area. http://www.kidney.org Watching through a child's eyes is incredible!! Executive Editor: Editorial Director: Diane Goetz Gigi Politoski T See you there!! C Managing Editor: Production Manager: Sara Kosowsky Joanne Charles Beverly Kirkpatrick Design Director: Editorial Manager: for the Editorial Board Oumaya Abi-Saab Catherine Paykin ✏ Sign Me Up... 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Name: ______________________________________________________________________________________ Address:____________________________________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip: ____________________________________________________________________________ Phone: ______________________________________ E-Mail: ______________________________________ I I am not interested in joining transAction Council but would like to continue receiving Transplant Chronicles at no charge. ✃ 2 Transplant Chronicles, Vol. 7, No. 4 Sean Elliott … it, so be it. But I don’t really think that’s the end of it,” Elliott says. Because basketball is such a continued from page 1 rigorous sport, doctors want to make sure Elliott will be protected before letting him back on the was put to the test last summer when it was court. His new kidney was placed in the front discovered that Elliott’s disease had progressed to portion of the body, near the pelvis, and he may the point of near kidney failure. Family members need to wear a protective device to shield it from were screened as potential organ donors. Without a contact on the basketball court. kidney transplant, Elliott would have to undergo dialysis, a tremendous obstacle for a professional Elliott is excited about the progress he has made basketball player. When the results came in, Noel to date and hopes to motivate other transplant turned out to be an almost recipients to remain active. Besides the obvious perfect match. Noel Elliott physical challenges a comeback involves, Elliott has said that he felt both says that returning to basketball will be a true honored and glad to help mental challenge after undergoing such a his brother in his time of procedure. “I think it would be a great statement need. “My brother has for a lot of people if I could come back and play,” always been there for me said Elliott. His dream may be realized sooner than and I will always be here anyone imagined. Elliott was cleared by doctors to for him. The Lord is with return to the game and the following evening, just us.” five months post-transplant, he joined his team for a practice session. He is still awaiting approval by The transplant took place the Spurs coach and team physicians to get back Sean plans to return to in August. In the in the game. If anyone can forge into unchartered play this season. beginning of the 1999- territory, though, it’s Sean Elliott. 2000 season, Elliott started travelling with the At press time he had been cleared by his doctors Spurs as a color commentator. to resume his ball career and is practicing with the T “I’ve had a great career, and if that’s the end of team. C Sean Elliott to Serve as Spokesperson for National Kidney Foundation 2000 U.S. Transplant Games San Antonio Spurs forward Sean Elliott, who 5,000 people, including transplant athletes, underwent kidney transplant surgery August 16, their families and friends and families of organ will serve as spokesperson for the National donors. Athlete participants range in age from Kidney Foundation 2000 U.S. Transplant three to 75. Games. This Olympic-style event, to be held Fred Herbert, chairman of the National Kidney June 21-24, 2000 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida Foundation, says, “We’re delighted at Disney's Wide World of Sports™ that Sean Elliott has chosen to Complex, is for athletes who have become our Transplant Games received life-saving organ transplants spokesperson. We know he will make of every type, including kidney, liver, a real difference in helping to get the heart, lung, pancreas and bone message out about the success of marrow. Transplant athletes will organ transplantation and inspire compete for gold, silver and bronze transplant recipients, donors and medals in 13 different sports, those people awaiting organs and including track and field, swimming, their families.” tennis, basketball, cycling and golf. Elliott will light the torch at Opening Ceremonies and Elliott will join another NBA legend at the participate in the basketball event and medals Games, Oscar Robertson, who donated a kidney presentations. to his daughter, Tia, a Transplant Games athlete. Says Robertson about the Games, Attendance at the 2000 U.S. Transplant Everyone who competes is already a winner in Games is expected to surpass the record- the game of life.” T breaking participation in the 1998 Games of C Transplant Chronicles, Vol.