When doctors removed the kidney from Ma‘ake Kemoeatu that they would transplant to his ailing younger brother Chris they marveled at its size.
"It was probably the largest normal kidney I’ve ever seen in my life, about one-and-a-half-times bigger than any other kidney I’ve ever put in," said Dr. Stephen Bartlett, who performed the transplant between the two NFL veterans and Super Bowl champions from Kahuku. "It was absolutely remarkable."
Ma‘ake’s heart, however, was even bigger.
With the sense of purpose with which he was raised as the oldest of seven kids, "it was my responsibility to take care of my younger brother," Ma‘ake said at a press conference Wednesday at the University of Maryland Medical Center, where the surgery was performed.
"If my brother — or any of my siblings — needed blood, then it will be my blood. If any of my siblings needed a kidney, it would have to be my kidney," Ma‘ake said.
Doctors called the 35-year-old former Baltimore Ravens nose guard a "guardian angel" for his 31-year-old brother and former Pittsburgh Steeler.
They said the Aug. 27 transplant is expected to restore kidney function and eliminate the need for dialysis.
Chris said, "It has been a humbling experience for me to see him make this huge sacrifice for me. I have nothing but love for him."
He said, "I feel healthy already."
It is a far cry from nearly two years ago when a kidney condition, first diagnosed when Chris was in eighth grade, progressed until it effectively ended his eight-year pro career.
"He couldn’t play anymore and I didn’t want to be in a position where he couldn’t play but I’d keep playing," Ma‘ake said. "As soon as my brother’s health was at risk, I wanted to stop everything."
He did, retiring from the Ravens, where he started 13 games in their Super Bowl XLVII championship season, to do his part as the whole family rallied around Chris. They took turns cooking, cleaning and transporting him to appointments in the run up to the surgery.
When the discussion turned to a transplant, family members lined up to be tested. Two brothers were 85 percent matches, doctors said. Their father wanted to donate, too. But Ma‘ake, who was like a twin at a "99 percent" match, according to doctors, would not hear of it.
"Me and my dad got into it a little bit," Ma‘ake said.
In time he became not only his brother’s donor but chief cheerleader, especially when Chris’ spirits slumped upon learning that he would have to have coronary artery bypass surgery before the transplant could be undertaken.
"I talked to him in football aspects," Ma‘ake said. "I said, ‘all right, we’re not going to get this first, but we’re fourth (down) and long right now and we have to go deep. We’ll make it through the first down, the heart surgery, to (get to) the end zone (the kidney transplant).’"
The experience has allowed the brothers to share more than just a kidney. Now they can openly share feelings.
"Growing up we were just kind of raised in a tough … atmosphere," said Ma‘ake, noting they felt the love for each other even if they didn’t verbalize it.
"But, after this (experience) we’ve had," Ma‘ake said, "I think we’ve grown to where, you know what, I can say it. All right, I’ll swallow my pride and say it: I love you."
Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.
