Nick Mangold passed away on Saturday at the age of 41, just under two weeks after sharing that he needed a kidney transplant.
On October 14, the same day he made his announcement, Mangold sat down for what is believed to be his final interview with the Post’s Steve Serby.
“Before this news broke, I thought I would live to about 60,” Mangold mentioned. “But it hit me sooner than I had anticipated.”
Mangold had been aware of his chronic kidney disease since 2006, yet didn’t inform many people until this month.
“I think my doctors and family were the only ones in the loop,” he explained. “I didn’t want to cast a shadow over my achievements.”
However, his condition worsened recently, forcing Mangold to start dialysis three times a week.
“This past summer, I lost 35 pounds in just two months, and my red blood cell count plummeted to around half of what it should be,” Mangold shared with Serby. “I was exhausted, dizzy, and felt nauseous, which led me to visit the doctor.”
It was then he was told he required a kidney transplant, which understandably scared him.
“Being rushed to the hospital wasn’t ideal. I’m not a fan of surgery, so yeah, that was nerve-wracking. But you have to place your trust in the doctors,” he noted.
Even with the grim prognosis, Mangold insisted his life wasn’t at immediate risk.
“It’s more than just getting through it; it’s a matter of life and death,” he reflected. “It seems like I’ll be on dialysis for quite a while. We’re really focusing on the quality of life now.”
Interestingly, he felt fortunate to be aware of what was happening to him.
“In an odd way, it’s almost a blessing in disguise to have a clear path to recovery,” Mangold remarked. “So many others deal with illnesses lacking a clear solution, but I have a way forward, and I’m just following that.”
He also aimed to bring attention to chronic kidney disease.
“I think I can address this subject more openly now,” Mangold stated. “It impacts my life a lot and touches many others facing similar struggles. I played 11 years while managing chronic kidney disease, and it’s important to share that others can do the same.”
He is survived by his wife, Jenny, and their four children: Matthew (14), Eloise (11), Thomas (9), and Charlotte (7).
