Grizz Chapman – Kidney Don’t Fail Me Now!

Sep 27, 2010 | Stacy Matson | Celebrity Health
Grizz Chapman – Kidney Don’t Fail Me Now!

image by: Kristin Dos Santos

Actor Grizz Chapman of NBC's “30 Rock” is on a mission to save lives. He’s spreading the word about the dangers of HBP and the importance of organ donation; both of which he knows about first hand

For more than a decade Chapman suffered from severe hypertension (high blood pressure), which eventually led to kidney failure, dialysis three times a week, and the news that he was hoping to avoid, he needed a kidney transplant.  At the time, Chapman weighed more than 500 pounds and was told that the extra weight made him ineligible for a transplant. So he went on a diet and added his name to the waiting list.  He eventually lost more that 130 pounds and found a donor kidney.  

Chapman is speaking out now because he says his situation could have been avoided. When he was initially diagnosed with hypertension, he was given blood pressure medications and a diet and exercise program to follow.  However, he stopped taking his medication after his friends made fun of his disease and dietary restrictions. Chapman said, “I hope many of my friends and the public in general change their habits and take better care of themselves. I do not want what happened to me to happen to anyone else. Dialysis is tough. I want people to go to the doctor”.  

In Chapman’s case a kidney transplant was his only hope for survival, but he had a few things besides his weight working against him.  Not only did he need to find a donor kidney from an African American but he also had to find someone of a similar body type and at nearly 7 feet tall and 378-pounds that appeared to be a long shot.  Fortunately for Chapman a 20-year-old man from Arizona was a near perfect match.   

The donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, flew to New York's Montefiore Medical Center for the transplant and spent several days there recovering from the surgery. Chapman says he was overwhelmed by the generosity of the donor, “He wasn't a fan of 30 Rock and he didn't watch it.  He was a total stranger who was going to donate a kidney to someone, regardless.”  They two have remained friends and speak to each other nearly every day. 

Although Chapman is well known and his need for a kidney was made public he says he was by no means put at the top of the waiting list. Chapman said, “The media may increase the awareness of the need for organ donations but they do not increase a patient's chances of receiving an organ.” Preferential treatment may exist but the medical factors, which include the patient’s time on the list, overall health, blood type, and tissue type of the patient and donor, must be near perfect for a transplant to take place.  

Chapman’s original diagnosis of hypertension is known as the 'Silent Killer' in the African American community. The prevalence among African-Americans is 50% greater than Caucasians. And after diagnosis, they are four times more likely than Caucasians to progress to end stage renal disease (kidney failure). Many experts believe that the increased rates of high blood pressure in African-Americans is the result of a combination of genetic, environmental, and cultural factors specific to the African American community; lack of quality medical care and high sodium diets to be exact.  

Because hypertension is so prevalent among African Americans they require organ transplants in higher numbers than members of other ethnic groups. Yet, the rate of organ donations in the African American community does not keep pace with the number needing transplants.  Ultimately, because of the lack of participation hundreds, maybe thousands, of African Americans die every year waiting for transplants.   

So, what are your chances of getting hypertension or requiring a transplant?  Pretty good. Right now there are approximately 75 million Americans with hypertension and 26 million Americans with kidney disease. Of those, 25,000 will develop kidney failure requiring a transplant, and 4,000 will die while waiting for a kidney transplant.  

Pretty depressing statistics…  

If you want to do something to help combat this Silent Killer you can join Grizz Chapman on October 17, 2010 when he will lead a team of walkers in the National Kidney Foundation’s Annual Walk in downtown Manhattan. The National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Walk is a fun, community event that raises awareness of the dangers of kidney disease and the need for organ donation. With the funds raised, NKF is able to offer free early detection screenings for kidney disease and support new research.  

Chapman is a lucky man and says he feels grateful to have a second chance at life. After spending his summer hiatus recuperating, Chapman has resumed filming 30 Rock and started training for the Kidney Walk.


Stacy Matson is a health enthusiast from Southern California and regularly blogs on Celebrity Health for A Healthier World, as well as contributing to the Best of the Best.

Introducing Stitches!

Your Path to Meaningful Connections in the World of Health and Medicine
Connect, Collaborate, and Engage!

Coming Soon - Stitches, the innovative chat app from the creators of HWN. Join meaningful conversations on health and medical topics. Share text, images, and videos seamlessly. Connect directly within HWN's topic pages and articles.


Be the first to know when Stitches starts accepting users


The Latest from Celebrity Health

Susan Lucci's Real Life Soap Opera
Susan Lucci's Real Life Soap Opera

I am the luckiest actress on the planet - Susan Lucci

Help St. Jude
Help St. Jude

I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver - Maya Angelou

Stick It to the Flu
Stick It to the Flu

Imagine the action of a vaccine not just in terms of how it affects a single body, but also in terms of how it affects the collective body of a community — Eula Biss, author of On Immunity

Stay Connected