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Healing Mourning upbeat, says he is progressing
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- An upbeat Alonzo Mourning said Wednesday he is making slow but steady progress in his battle with a humbling kidney disease that ended his season. "It's a day-to-day process for me," Mourning said in his first public comments since announcing a month ago that he had focal glomerulosclerosis, an illness which leads to kidney failure in about half the cases. "I'm doing fine," the five-time All Star said in a brief meeting with reporters before the Heat played the Nets. "The doctors are pleased with the progress. I'm not going backward, I'm going nothing but forward. "The biggest thing -- and the doctors continue to pound this in my head -- is being patient. That's something that I'm not used to." Doctors first spotted the illness after Mourning returned from Australia after helping the U.S. Olympic team to the basketball gold medal. The 30-year-old announced in mid-October that he would have to sit out the season because of the illness. Mourning, who looked a little thin, seemed to be having fun on his trip to New Jersey for appearances on NBA Inside Stuff and NBA.com. "A change of atmosphere beats the four walls that I've been around, sitting in the house all the time. Being around the guys is uplifting. Very therapeutic. "Each and every opportunity I have to spend time with the guys is healing. Its therapeutic and it helps keep me sane," Mourning added. "Just to be here and knowing that I'm here with them, supporting them, wishing them well, offering them some advice, is helpful not only to them, but to me as well. It helps me feel like I'm a part of this." Mourning said he will pick and choose when he travels. He will not take long trips because he does not want to get away from his routine. "I've got pretty much a strict diet and regimen I stick to," Mourning said. Mourning, who has been attending Miami's home games, said there is an opportunity to beat the disease because it was caught early. "It's amazing how I channel my mind and my body and my heart to ignore all the discomforts and all the rigors of the sport and play right through it and really develop a high tolerance for discomfort and pain," Mourning said. "Then this puts you totally at a standstill and forces you to sit back and collect yourself, and forces you to listen to your body more and take your time. That's the most humbling thing." Mourning finished third in voting for the NBA's Most Valuable Player last season when he averaged 21.1 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game. He had missed only seven games the past two seasons.
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