United States-based Zimbabwe Olympic star, sprinter Gabriel Mvumvure has launched an online campaign to raise funds for him to undergo a kidney transplant, after recently being diagnosed with hypertension and chronic kidney disease.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
Mvumvure, who represented Zimbabwe at the Rio Olympics early this year, started a GoFundMe account on Tuesday in an effort to raise money for the enormous medical expenses.
The effort on the online crowdfunding platform had raised more than $5 000 of the $21 000 goal as of yesterday afternoon.
“They say life is a book full of unending chapters. A journey with hills, sunshine mountains, valleys and rain. The last time I shared my fight with chronic kidney disease and hypertension, I had conquered a hill. My kidney function had improved and I represented Zimbabwe at the 2016 Rio Olympics against great odds,” Mvumvure (28) said.
“Unfortunately, the story doesn’t always turn out the way we imagine it. Four weeks ago, I found myself in a hospital emergency room. My body had fluid overload. My kidneys were failing, my lungs were functioning at 70%, which wasn’t good for my heart muscles, I was coughing up blood because a sac of fluid had formed around my heart, squeezing it and stopping it from beating properly. I was in pretty bad shape.”
The Olympian, who, in 2013, became only the second Zimbabwean to break the 10-second barrier in the 100m after clocking 9,98 in Montverde, US, initially fell ill last February before he was diagnosed with hypertension and chronic kidney disease.
He would miss the better part of the 2015 season before he was cleared to resume training by his doctors.
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The former Churchill High School student and ex-African junior champion still managed to bounce back strongly from the illness by qualifying for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro finishing 37th out of a total of 70 athletes, who took part in the 100m.
Doctors hoped to manage the illness, but after two weeks of severe health issues that prompted repeated emergency dialysis sessions, Mvumvure’s nephrologist recently decided he needed a transplant.
“Many people stay on dialysis for the rest of their lives, but those people are also usually in their late 50s or older. I’m 28. My nephrologist explained that I was too young to be on dialysis for the rest of my life because it would severely shorten my life span.
“I would only have 10 years or less left to live. With a transplant, I am able to have a normal life, a long, normal life. I (would) get a chance to have children, raise a family and fulfil the purpose that God put me on this earth for,” he said.
“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.”
