NBA Legend Alonzo Mourning’s Journey From Kidney Scare To Health Advocate

At 6’10, 240 lb, training 6 hours per day and playing three-hour games 80+ times every year, Alonzo Mourning was living the dream: a muscular behemoth in prime physical condition, playing at the top of his game in the National Basketball League.

Until he wasn’t.

When your day-job completely depends on your physical health, you become keenly aware of any changes out of the ordinary. In my recent interview with the 7-time NBA All-Star, I learned that Mourning paid attention to every detail of his body.

One day, Mourning noticed swelling of his feet. He was also just not feeling right. At the time, the NBA champion was playing for the Miami Heat, so he talked to the team doctor about his unusual symptoms. After undergoing multiple lab tests, the Olympic gold medalist was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease with a very long name: focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, or FSGS.

“I was shocked, and I was humbled because I didn’t know anything about this particular disease,” reflected Mourning. “I wasn’t educated at all on how it was going to affect me.”

The NBA star could hardly be faulted. FSGS is so rare that most physicians have never heard of it, let alone diagnose and treat it. Yet now, Mourning can spout off fact after fact, not only about FSGS but kidney health in general. Today, the basketball superstar is partnering with Power Forward to encourage people to be proactive about their kidney health.

Just as he prepared himself for a basketball game, Mourning prepared for his surprising health battle. “I educated myself on this,” explained the NBA Hall-of-Famer. “I started an oral regimen [of medicines] to slow the progression of the disease and was able to play again.” He learned that 37 million Americans experience chronic kidney disease (CKD), but another 30 million “are at risk and don’t even know they have it.” Mourning eventually underwent a renal transplant and continues to take immunosuppressants and other medications to stay healthy.

According to Matthew Sparks, MD, a nephrologist and associate professor at the Duke Department of Medicine, FSGS is actually a collection of diseases. “It is scarring of the glomerulus, which is the filtering portion of the kidney,” explains Dr. Sparks. Glomerular scarring can be caused by obesity, minimal change disease (which often affects children) and various medications and drugs. Genetics can also play a role.

“Be proactive in identifying whether or not you have the APOL1 gene,” Mourning advises, with special focus on Black, LatinX and Afro-Caribbean communities who are at greater risk of carrying this gene.

Dr. Sparks offers a deeper dive into FSGS, genetics and race. “FSGS is more common in Black patients,” states the Duke kidney specialist. “About a decade ago, it was found that a genetic mutation was found in a gene called APOL1. A homozygous mutation is seen in 15% of patients in the US who self-identify as Black.” Dr. Sparks pointed out that studies are currently underway to target APOL1 using medications. But the APOL1 gene doesn’t explain all of the racial disparities seen in FSGS, reminds the Duke Nephrology Program Director: “Social determinants of health, access to healthcare, racism and other factors also play a key role.” Dr. Sparks recommends Care and Justice as a reliable resource about APOL1-mediated kidney disease.

In my conversation with Mourning, I shared my concern about the public’s lack of awareness of renal pathology. While most of my patients can connect chest pain or shortness of breath to heart or lung disease, kidney disease can be more nebulous. This lack of awareness can prevent timely diagnoses and treatment – and lead to massive expenditures. According to the CDC, the overall Medicare costs for people with CKD were $87.2 billion in 2019. For these reasons, I applauded the basketball legend for using his influential platform to save lives and educate people about their kidney health.

“I look back and with all I’ve gone through, I feel like I’ve become a spokesperson and a voice for those who are battling kidney disease to provide some hope and inspiration,” Mourning humbly acknowledged. “I thought about the millions of Americans who can’t afford the medications, who can’t afford getting a second and third opinion. I knew that [Power Forward] would be an amazing tool to help provide information.”

Another important theme in my interview with Mourning was preventive health. The most common causes of kidney failure are hypertension and diabetes – both preventable conditions. His hope was that more medical professionals devoted more time to discussing diet and exercise. I agreed, and added my desire to see far more funding by local, state and federal government towards public health agencies and targeted, community-based initiatives.

As for common symptoms of kidney disease, look for swelling of feet and ankles; nausea and vomiting; loss of appetite; changes in urination; muscle cramps; and shortness of breath. If you’re experiencing any of these body changes, see your doctor who will order blood and urine tests.

While Mr. Mourning and I may not agree on basketball team greatness – as a Torontonian, I showed him my Raptors jersey (“Well, doc, we all make mistakes at some point!”) – he and I do agree on the urgent need to educate and empower the public about health: kidney health, specifically, and preventive health, more broadly. Pay attention to your body, and you’ll make your kidneys very happy!