Rugby legend Jonah Lomu has died at 40. He was waiting for a kidney transplant. Like him, in France, 257 people on the waiting list died in 2014.
The world of rugby is in mourning. One of his legends, Jonah Lomu, died of cardiac arrest on November 18, at the age of 40, after an exceptional life. The former New Zealand winger stood out for his exceptional physique, his early selection – at only 19 years old. But his sporting ascent was very quickly slowed down. In 1997, a rare genetic kidney disease was diagnosed: nephrotic syndrome. This is only the first of many rebounds that will experience his course.
A friend donates his kidney
Born in Auckland (New Zealand) in 1975, Jonah Lomu quickly stood out. From the height of its 96 meter, with its 119 kilos, it stands out in the landscape of the wingers. His 63 selections within the All Blacks will confirm this exceptional character. It was not the diagnosis of his nephrotic syndrome in 1997 that stopped him. After eight months of treatment, he returned in time to the national selection for the 1999 World Cup.
But in 2002, this rugby legend had to give way in the face of illness. Too ill to pursue his career, Jonah Lomu announces his retirement. Two years later, he underwent a kidney transplant. His friend Grant Kereama, radio presenter, is at the origin of this living donation – then very limited in France.
It was not until 2011 that the bioethics law widened the circle of potential living donors. All family members can now volunteer, as well as close friends, which is defined by a close and stable two-year relationship.
Yvanie Caillé, president of the Renaloo association: ” Many legislative barriers have been lifted. However, there is still a lack of information for the general public and patients. “
Return to the field
2011 is also the year of the relapse for Jonah Lomu. In the meantime, the rugby player has made a spectacular return to the field – with a visit to the Marseille-Vitrolles club in 2009. “He was transplanted in an unconventional way to protect his kidney”, explains Prof. Benoît Barrou, nephrologist at the Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital (Paris) contacted by Why actor. However, the New Zealander does not play again in the biggest clubs. “Anti-rejection treatments are indisposing and have side effects,” tempers Benoît Barrou. It is therefore almost impossible to return to the previous sporting level. If we can get an athlete back to 80% of his abilities, that’s already good. “
For Yvanie Caillé, president of the Renaloo patient association, Jonah Lomu’s return still has a special flavor. “The transplant most often allows a real rehabilitation of patients, especially when they are young. But Jonah Lomu was a very high level athlete, so the transplant allowed him to resume competition, which is very symbolically strong. “
4 years of waiting
But the transplant does not hold. In 2012, the New Zealander announced that he was the victim of rejection. A rather unusual event since transplants from living donors have a median survival of 20 years. According to the Biomedicine Agency, three quarters of the grafts are still functional within 10 years of the transplant.
Jonah Lomu therefore goes back to dialysis three times a week, six hours a day. In his last interview, given to Daily Mail, he is terribly lucid. Although he wants to see his sons grow up to age 21, he admits, “There is no guarantee that this will happen. “You have to be positive about it,” he adds. All dialysis patients are different, but they have one thing in common: they have no choice. If not give up. “
The colossus will not have given up before November 18, 4 years after his registration on the waiting lists. This is much longer than the average waiting time observed in France, which is 15.9 months.
Yvanie Caillé : ” What should be emphasized is that Jonah Lomu was a giant, and he probably needed a graft that came from someone of the same size as him. “
“A very warm guy”
According to John Mayhew, former doctor of the All Blacks, the cardiac arrest was caused by nephrotic syndrome. “Kidney damage is a cardiovascular risk factor. It is a common cause of death in patients with kidney disease, so it’s not surprising, ”says Benoît Barrou.
Like Jonah Lomu, 257 people died while awaiting a transplant in 2014. And 15,470 are still awaiting a kidney transplant. 3,200 were operated – 16% thanks to living donors. “Jonah Lomu, it was a real symbol for many transplant patients or awaiting transplants. He resumed competition, he had a real commitment. Today is something rather sad to learn of his death. “
Prof. Benoît Barrou met Jonah Lomu in 2010, during a meeting on kidney transplantation at Pitié-Salpêtrière. He too has fond memories of this colossus. “He was a very warm guy, a beautiful person,” he recalls. Someone worthy of the donation that was made, and who championed the cause of the transplant. “
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-1730888646.jpg "Kidney donation while alive: “It was an act of love that I did for my sister”")
