Zimpapers Logo

Gabriel Mvumvure

Allen Khumalo, Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWEAN sprinter Gabriel Mvumvure is appealing to well-wishers to help him raise funds to undergo a kidney transplant.

The 28-year-old who represented the country at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro early this year, announced that he requires $21 000 to undergo a kidney transplant in the United States.

Mvumvure said he had another diagnosis last year as his body had a fluid overload and was coughing blood because a sac of fluid had formed around his heart, squeezing it to stop beating properly.

“My kidneys were failing and my lungs were functioning at 70 percent which was not good for my heart muscles. The doctors decided I had to get emergency dialysis to take out the excess fluid or else I have less than a few days to live.

“After four days of emergency dialysis sessions, they took out 12 litres of excess fluid from my body after spending two weeks in hospital. Nearing the end of my hospital stay, I was feeling better but unfortunately my kidneys couldn’t recover as I had suffered Acute Kidney Failure. My kidneys weren’t strong enough or able to sufficiently clean my body of toxins and excess fluid,” he said.

The track star said he was then told that he needed a kidney transplant but would have to do dialysis three times a week, four hours each day until he got a transplant. The dialysis machine would clean the blood of the toxins and excess fluid.

“It would essentially help me stay alive because toxic build up is deadly and fatal, it’s basically poison. As you may know healthcare in the US is expensive and the price for a complicated surgery like a transplant is high. I appeal to you my family and friends to help me raise money for my transplant and hospital bills by donating and sharing my story,” Mvumvure said.

Recent reports suggest that Mvumvure’s former college in the Unites States- Louisiana State University (LSU) announced that it would be partnering him in his fundraising efforts.

Donations to the Gabriel Mvumvure Fund are now being accepted through Tiger Athletic Foundation’s official website at <http://www.lsutaf.org>.

@khumzallen