Nate Robinson is I've been battling kidney disease for the past 18 years.said he would die if he didn't find a kidney donor soon.
The former Knicks guard, who turned 40 at the end of May, spoke about the life-threatening illness. Men's Health Interview In the post, published on Tuesday, he explained how “my woman” helped him change his perspective on fighting for life after he became seriously ill with COVID-19 in 2020, which led to kidney failure and him undergoing dialysis two years ago.
“At first I was very angry. I was very mean,” Robinson said, reflecting on her journey. “I felt that darkness. [my family]I got a kick in the ass from his wife, she said they are here to love me and understand my pain but they can't be mean to themselves and they can't be mean to us.
“And I didn't realize it until they pointed it out to me. Sometimes you just need that. You need to know you're screwing up. And I was acting like I didn't know that.”
Robinson was officially diagnosed with kidney disease in 2006 and refused to believe doctors' warnings at the time that her kidneys were failing and would likely fail by her 30s.
The three-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion was initially hospitalized for dehydration and vomiting to manage his illness.
But in 2020, his COVID-19 case became “severe” and he began dialysis treatment, which he said was the only option left at the time.
Robinson explained that during his first two years undergoing dialysis treatment in Seattle, he was isolated from family and friends.
“Nobody was looking at me,” he recalled. “I was so depressed about it. There were days I didn't want to leave the house. There were days I didn't want to do dialysis again. There were days I wanted to stay here and keep doing this until they found a kidney.”
The fact that the illness had reduced him from a 5-foot-9 dunking champion who was “like Superman” to almost unrecognizable was crushing for him.
“For a long time it was hard to deal with. I didn't know how to react, how to make it seem like this was my life now,” he said.
Robinson was described as emaciated, with a swollen face, pale skin, spots around his eyes and swollen limbs.
Robinson said, Being treated for kidney failure It is scheduled to be released in October 2022.
His kidneys were functioning at less than 15% of optimal capacity, he told Men's Health magazine.
Robinson said he hopes to receive a kidney from “a family member, friend or cool fan.”
The former NBA guard is on a kidney transplant waiting list in Washington state and hopes to eventually get on a national list soon.
Robinson is the youngest patient receiving dialysis at a Seattle facility.
Robinson, a first-round draft pick by the Knicks in 2005, played four-plus seasons in New York before stints with the Celtics, Thunder, Warriors, Bulls, Nuggets, Clippers and Pelicans.
Robinson briefly took up boxing but was knocked out in the second round by Jake Paul. November 2020 Battle Rounds The undercard bout for the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. fight took place in Los Angeles.
