NBA champion, ‘Survivor’ contestant Scot Pollard receives coronary heart transplant

NBA champion and “Survivor” contestant Scot Pollard has had a coronary heart transplant, his spouse mentioned on social media on Friday evening.

“Scot has a brand new coronary heart!” Daybreak Pollard posted on X, previously often called Twitter. “Surgical procedure went effectively and I’ve been advised the center is large, highly effective and is an ideal match! Now on to the essential a part of restoration. Thanks to everybody for the continued prayers and assist, 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 recognized about because it killed his father at 54, when Scot was 16. Pollard’s dimension sophisticated efforts to discover a donor with a coronary heart sufficiently big 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 preserve the prayers coming for Scot, the surgeons, for the donor and his household who misplaced their beloved one. This donor gave probably the most wonderful present of life and we’re perpetually grateful.”

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Pollard was a 1997 first-round draft decide after serving to Kansas attain the NCAA Candy 16 in 4 straight seasons. He was a helpful large 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 yr with the Boston Celtics regardless of a season-ending ankle damage in February.

Pollard retired after that season, then dabbled in broadcasting and performing. 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 together with his situation final month and started 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 mentioned in a textual content message to The Related Press from his hospital room in Nashville, Tennessee. “My coronary heart bought weaker. (Docs) agree that is my finest shot at getting a coronary heart faster.”