NBA champion and “Survivor” contestant Scot Pollard has had a coronary heart transplant, his spouse stated on social media on Friday night time.
“Scot has a brand new coronary heart!” Daybreak Pollard posted on X, previously referred to as Twitter. “Surgical procedure went properly and I’ve been instructed the guts is massive, highly effective and is an ideal match! Now on to the essential a part of restoration. Thanks to everybody for the continued prayers and help, however most of all, deepest because of the donor, our hero.”
Pollard, who turned 49 on Monday, wanted a transplant due to harm to his coronary heart from a virus he caught in 2021 that doubtless triggered a genetic situation he has identified about because it killed his father at 54, when Scot was 16. Pollard’s size complicated efforts to find a donor with a coronary heart large enough to suit his 6-foot-11, 260-pound physique.
Earlier Friday, Daybreak Pollard posted {that a} coronary heart had been discovered.
“It’s go time!” she posted on X. “Please hold the prayers coming for Scot, the surgeons, for the donor and his household who misplaced their liked one. This donor gave probably the most wonderful present of life and we’re perpetually grateful.”
Pollard was a 1997 first-round draft choose after serving to Kansas attain the NCAA Candy 16 in 4 straight seasons. He was a helpful massive man off the bench for a lot of an NBA profession that stretched over 11 years and 5 groups. He performed 55 seconds within the Cleveland Cavaliers’ journey to the NBA Finals in 2007, and received all of it the next 12 months with the Boston Celtics regardless of a season-ending ankle damage in February.
Pollard retired after that season, then dabbled in broadcasting and appearing. He was a contestant on the thirty second season of “Survivor,” the place he was voted out on Day 27 with eight castaways remaining.
Pollard went public along with his situation final month and commenced the method of itemizing himself at transplant facilities. He was admitted to intensive care at Vanderbilt College Medical Heart on Feb. 7.
“I’m staying right here till I get a coronary heart,” he stated in a textual content message to The Related Press from his hospital room in Nashville, Tennessee. “My coronary heart acquired weaker. (Medical doctors) agree that is my finest shot at getting a coronary heart faster.”
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