New Kidney, New Hope... Merritt Talks About Coping With His Struggles As He Looks Forward To Better Days


SHANGHAI, China:
Eight months after undergoing a kidney transplant, world 110 metres hurdles record holder and Olympic champion Aries Merritt has admitted that it has been a struggle for him this season but is counting his blessings and hoping that returned health will bring returned form.
Days after winning bronze at last year's IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China, Merritt found himself under the knife as he was forced to undergo a kidney transplant. The new organ, which was provided by his sister, became a necessity after it was revealed that the US star had been suffering from a generic disorder, which left his kidneys operating at about 15 per cent during the World Championships.
That made headlines, but what is less known, is that the 30 year-old would end up back on the operating table some seven weeks later after a complication had developed that was basically crushing the new organ.
Merritt, told reporters ahead of his Shanghai Diamond League competition this morning, that he is in much better shape at this point, and although he still feels some degree of discomfort when he hurdles, he is expecting to be where he wants to be in time for the Olympic trials and a defence of his title in Rio.
"In September after Beijing I had a kidney transplant and then about seven weeks later I had a second surgery that many people don't know about. I had one complication that caused me to have to go back and have another operation so they cut me open again and internalise the kidney a little deeper," Merritt said.
"I was having difficulty with haematoma that had developed that was actually crushing the kidney and so after that was drained and after they stitched me back up I was able to resume training roughly in January," he added.