FEW LIST OF NOTABLE RECIPIENTS

Kidney Transplant

This list of notable organ transplant donors and recipients includes people who were the first to undergo certain organ transplant procedures or were people who made significant contributions to their chosen field and who have either donated or received an organ transplant at some point in their lives, as confirmed by public information.

Fashion critic and member of Entertainment Tonight. In November 2004 he announced that he was suffering from polycystic kidney disease and would require a kidney transplant. He underwent transplant surgery on January 14, 2005, after his friend Abby Finer donated one of her kidneys. Later, the kidney became infected by a virus, and in June 2005 he underwent a second operation to have the new kidney removed. On August 17, he announced that his body was free of the viral infection and that he was ready to find a new transplant. He then received a second kidney transplant, which was donated by his mother.

Gary Coleman

• Actor who played Arnold on Diff'rent Strokes. Received two separate kidney transplants, one in 1973 and another in 1984.

Lucy Davis

• Actress best known for playing the character Dawn Tinsley in the BBC comedy, The Office. Kidney received in 1997, which was donated by her mother.

Sean Elliot

• NBA basketball star. The kidney was donated by his brother. Elliott made history by returning to play in the NBA following his surgery.

Jennifer Harman

• Poker player; only woman to win two open events in the World Series of Poker. Had two separate kidney transplants.

Jonah Lomu

• New Zealand All Blacks rugby union player. The kidney was donated by Wellington radio presenter Grant Kereama. Lomu came back to professional rugby in 2005, though not with his past success.

Alonzo Mourning

• NBA basketball star. Like Elliott, Mourning returned to play in the NBA following his surgery, and is currently playing.

George Lopez

• Actor-Comedian and star of The George Lopez Show. Kidney transplant from his wife, Ann Lopez in April 2005

Ron Spring

• Former NFL player. Kidney donated by former Dallas Cowboys teammate Everson Walls.

Billy Preston

• An American soul musician from Houston, Texas, raised mostly in Los Angeles, California.

Kerry Packer

• His long-serving helicopter pilot, Nick Ross, donated one of his own kidneys to Packer for transplantation.

Ken Howard

• Tony-winning actor who is best known for his role in the television show The White Shadow as basketball coach and former Chicago Bulls player, Ken Reeves.

Charles Perkins

• Australian soccer player, Aboriginal activist and government minister.

Reference: Wikipedia