Former NBA star Nate Robinson, known for his electrifying performances and three-time Slam Dunk Contest victories, has opened up about his urgent need for a kidney transplant, admitting that time is running out.
Diagnosed with renal kidney failure two years ago, Robinson has been on the search for a replacement kidney for the past four years. According to reports from the Daily Mail, the 11-year NBA veteran faces a critical situation where he would only survive for a week or two without the aid of a dialysis machine.
“I know that I don’t have long if I can’t get a kidney,” Robinson shared with the publication. “I know I’m not going to have long to live. So I just want to make the best of it as much as I can.”
Nate Robinson Knew He Would Have Problems A Long Time Ago
Robinson, grateful that his body does not reject dialysis, undergoes treatment three times a week, enduring four-hour sessions each day. Missing a single session could prove fatal for him.
“Some people’s body reject dialysis,” Robinson emphasized. “And thank God that mine accepts it and I can live… if I didn’t go to dialysis, I wouldn’t live probably longer than a week or two.
So it’s serious, can’t miss a day. I go in for four hours, three days a week, four hours a day. And they clean my blood to get my toxins out. And they help me out a lot because that’s how I’m living.”
Despite the lifesaving treatments, Robinson often experiences painful vomiting spells, leading to hospitalizations lasting a day or two. Nevertheless, he strives to maintain a positive outlook and engage in activities he enjoys as much as possible.
The 39-year-old NBA veteran had learned of his kidney issues back in 2006 while playing for the New York Knicks. At that time, he was informed that high blood pressure had caused damage to his kidneys, indicating a potential for kidney failure later in life.
Throughout his illustrious NBA career, which included scoring 6,807 points and achieving a record three Slam Dunk Contest victories, Robinson continued to excel on the court. Now, faced with the urgent need for a kidney transplant, he remains thankful for each day.
“Because some people, they go in for kidneys,” Robinson reflected, “go into the hospital, and they never come out.”
