JJ Sullinger Donates Kidney to Former Ohio State Teammate Terence Dials, Putting Brotherhood Into Action: “He’s Letting Me Live”
Ohio State breaks down each huddle with one word: “Family.”
That word is the backbone of the Buckeyes’ culture — and that culture was put to the test when former Ohio State power forward and current recruiting coordinator Terence Dials needed a kidney transplant amid a 10-year battle with chronic kidney disease.
As OSU honored Thad Matta for his 500 career wins during the team’s scrimmage against Butler on Sunday, the legendary head coach revealed that Dials’ college teammate, JJ Sullinger, had offered to be his donor.
Less than 48 hours later, Ohio State men’s basketball shared a behind-the-scenes look at the moment Dials told the program about the Brotherhood being about more than wins and losses on a hardwood court.
“I get emotional, man,” Dials said. “I’ve been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. It’s been like 10 years. It’s been getting worse every year. This past year, I was able to get on a list for a kidney donation, so I was on Ohio State’s list, Cincinnati’s list, and the doctors tell me you’re supposed to send out to your networks of friends and family and see who can be a match, a donor.
“I send it out to all my friends. My best friend (beats chest), he was the first one to jump and said he wanted to donate his kidney to me. On Monday, I go under the knife and he’s giving me one of his kidneys. We say that because he’s giving me a new lease on life.
“But when Coach Diebler, me and him talked today, we thought this story would be good for your guys because this wasn’t possible without the game of basketball for one, but for two, this family at Ohio State. When Diebs says family, I’m a living testimony for that. He’s letting me live.”
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