Lonzo Ball of the Chicago Bulls, who underwent a double cartilage transplant in March 2023, met the family of the meniscus donor, according to an April 9 report from WGN9.
Mr. Ball met with the parents of Alex Reinhardt, a 20-year-old football player from South Dakota who died by suicide in 2023, and whose parents had elected to donate his organs.
In 2024, Mr. Ball became the first professional athlete to return to play after undergoing the transplant when he rejoined the Chicago Bulls.
Brian Cole, MD, a surgeon for Midwest Orthopedics at Rush Medical Center and head orthopedic doctor for the Bulls, performed the surgery.
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