Cricket star Cameron Green is opening up for the first time about the life-threatening and incurable health problem he has had since birth
- All-rounder revealed a problem on the day of the first Test against Pakistan
- Only recently told his Test teammates about it
- As a child, I had to go to the hospital ‘every week’ for treatment
Australian all-rounder Cameron Green has opened up about his chronic kidney condition, which at one point left doctors wondering whether he would live beyond the age of 12.
Green was diagnosed with stage two kidney disease before birth, which means his body doesn’t filter blood as well as others.
The 24-year-old did his best to keep the condition a secret, with former Australian coach Justin Langer remaining unaware despite knowing Green since he was 15.
But Green recently revealed the condition to his Test teammates after suffering a series of convulsive episodes linked to his kidney function.
The 24-year-old (pictured with girlfriend Emily Redwood) kept his kidney problem so close to his chest that even former Australian coach Justin Langer didn’t know it, despite knowing him since he was just 15.
Green revealed that as a child he had to go to the hospital every week for treatment
“It was just noticed during ultrasounds,” Green told Channel 7 when asked about the condition.
‘Chronic kidney disease is basically a progressive disease of the health function of your kidneys.
‘Unfortunately, mine doesn’t filter blood as well as other kidneys.
‘Currently it is about six percent, which is phase two.
‘In chronic kidney disease there are five stages, with stage one being the least serious and stage five being transplant or dialysis, and luckily I am stage two.
‘But if you don’t take care of it enough, it can easily go back because the kidneys can’t get better. It is irreversible.’
Green’s health was closely monitored during his childhood.
Green’s father Gary revealed that doctors at one point warned the family that the cricketer might not live past the age of 12.
“Growing up, I remember being in the hospital every week and having ultrasound scans of my kidneys, just checking their size and health,” said the 198cm Groene.
‘When I was younger, my parents were told that I could be very small, and that’s quite funny to look back on now.
‘I consider myself very fortunate that chronic kidney disease does not physically affect me as much as other people who have the same thing.’
Green’s father Gary said it was uncharted territory when Cameron was diagnosed before he was born.
‘The prognosis was not great. There were life expectancy issues where he might not expect to live past the age of 12,” Gary said.
His mother, Bee Tracey, said she was scared when doctors told her the news during the 19-week scan.
The star’s mum Bee Tracey (pictured together) had to cook special meals for him when he was a child – something his dietician friend now helps him with
“They noticed that his bladder was swollen and said it was a blockage of the urethra, which was causing the urine to just flow back into the kidneys and they wouldn’t develop properly,” Bee said.
As far as diet goes, Green has to be careful about the amount of protein and sodium he consumes.
But even if he does the right things, he can still suffer from cramps, as he did last year when batting for Australia in an ODI against New Zealand in Cairns.
‘Luckily I have a relationship with a dietician [Emily Redwood]someone who can help me with my meals that I have to provide myself,” Green said.
‘When I was growing up, my mother cooked beautiful meals, kidney-friendly.
“At the time I was upset because I was eating all those healthy meals, but over time I was grateful that we did.”