Cojocaru Expects Kidney Transplant Soon

NEW YORK – Red-carpet fashion maven Steven Cojocaru, who has polycystic kidney disease, says he hopes to have a transplant operation in early winter.

“There is a bit of a window right now where I have some kidney function,” Cojocaru said Tuesday on NBC’s “Today” show. “But basically I have to get a kidney transplant as soon as possible. We’re talking sometime in the near future, hopefully early winter.”

Polycystic kidney disease is a common hereditary disease that affects about 600,000 Americans, according to Cojocaru, who became known for his snappy assessment of celebrity awards show fashion.

“What I’ve learned is you can’t ask someone to give you a kidney. You sit back and hope your loved ones are going to come forward. And I’m completely floored by the people who have come forward. Not only my close family and friends,” Cojocaru said.

Cojocaru is a contributor to the “Today” show and a correspondent for the syndicated “Entertainment Tonight” and “The Insider” television shows. He revealed his illness in an interview Monday night on “Entertainment Tonight.”

Of his new effort to raise awareness about organ donation, Cojocaru said on the “Today” show, “I want to do that big time. You know? It didn’t start out that way. This has been a process. But … I think we know that I have the biggest mouth in Hollywood, and maybe I can finally do something good. You know?

“Overnight it’s kind of a real purpose. Yeah, this really fires me up.”

Polycystic kidney disease causes cysts to grow in both kidneys, diminishing functioning tissue, according to the “Merck Manual of Medical Information.”

More than half of those with the disease, which can become evident in childhood or in later life, develop kidney failure at some point and require dialysis or kidney transplantation, the “Merck Manual” said.

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