The former Baltimore Raven Ma’ake Kemoeatu has saved the life of his young brother Chris Kemoe‘atu by giving him one of his kidneys.
Ma‘ake, 35, stepped in to rescue his brother after learning Chris, 31, ended his career as an ex-Pittsburgh Steeler in 2011 because he suffered a kidney disease.
Chris was lucky because Ma’ake’s organ was a “99 percent match”.
In a press conference at the University of Maryland Medical Centre on Wednesday, Ma’ake said: “I’ve seen him struggle and the last three years of his career, fighting through a lot because of his kidney. When we found out he needed a transplant, we had to stop our careers because his health was most important to us.”
Ma’ake quit football back in 2012 so that doctors could start processing the transplant.
The Bleach report says. “The process of getting Chris a new kidney certainly wasn’t easy. Between the weight loss and the heart complications, it was a long process. However, he eventually received the kidney that saved his life—all thanks to his brother”.
On March 13, 2010 Ma’ake signed a two year agreement with the Washington Redskins for US $7 million contract.
The Kemoeatus are two of the six siblings of Reverend Siketi and Ahea Kolovetekina Kemoeatu.
