NHL Insider Shares A Devastating Update On His Health

Insiders in the National Hockey League play a crucial role in keeping hockey enthusiasts informed about behind-the-scenes developments. Aaron Portzline of The Athletic stands out as an exceptional reporter covering the Columbus Blue Jackets, consistently delivering important stories from the franchise. However, recently, Portzline shared news of a personal nature, shedding light on his battle with severe kidney failure, which will affect his Blue Jackets coverage this season.

Portzline took to social media to share a candid message about his Stage 5 kidney failure, emphasizing that he urgently needs a kidney transplant to survive. In his unfiltered message, he revealed:




Portzline expressed gratitude for the support he has received from medical professionals, including the Ohio State transplant team, Dr. Rima Kang, and the dialysis nurses at Fresenius Kidney Care.

His decision to go public serves two purposes:

First, he wanted to alert readers that there might be disruptions in his Blue Jackets' coverage for The Athletic during the season. Portzline's editors have been understanding, and his colleagues will step in when necessary.

Second, he aimed to raise awareness about organ donation and how people can help. He highlighted that there is a significant need for kidney donors, with approximately 100,000 individuals in the United States awaiting organ transplants, and the majority, like him, require a kidney.

Portzline emphasized that many people can lead fulfilling lives with just one healthy kidney, and he has been fortunate to have nine potential donors step forward, although a match is yet to be found.

He encouraged people to consider becoming donors through direct/living donation or by indicating their donor status on their driver's licenses. Portzline provided links with additional information and welcomed any questions, emphasizing that anyone has the power to save a life through organ donation.

As seen on hockeyfeed