Wellington: Former All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu says he needs a second kidney transplant after the failure of the donated organ he received in a 2004 operation.
The 36-year-old retired star told the New Zealand Women's Weekly magazine he is hunting for a new donor to provide a replacement for his failed kidney. In the meantime, he faces seven-hour dialysis treatments three times a week, he is highly susceptible to infections and he has lost 30 kilograms since he appeared in the opening ceremony of the Rugby World Cup last September.
Fortunate
Lomu's international rugby ended in 2002 after 63 test matches, largely due to ill health. He developed nephrotic syndrome, a degenerative kidney disorder, and in 2004 received a transplanted kidney donated by New Zealand radio personality Grant Kereama.
Lomu told the weekly that his kidney ceased working last October. "We were hoping to see some improvement but nothing has made any difference, so the next step is to try to find a donor," Lomu said.
"I know I was fortunate to get the first transplant, but there are more difficulties this time around. The match will be harder and the process of finding a suitable donor is difficult. The chances of my body rejecting this kidney are higher too.
"I'm really lucky, I've already lived more in one lifetime than many would in six or seven lifetimes."
