Award-winning Nigerian music video director ThankGod Omori, popularly known as TG Omori, has opened up about his battle with kidney failure and the unsuccessful transplant he underwent.
Omori made the disclosure during a recent interview on the Afropolitan Podcast, revealing that he had been receiving treatment at a private hospital in Ikoyi for more than six months.
The filmmaker said only a handful of people in the entertainment industry knew about his condition, including music stars Olamide, Fireboy DML, Asake, Rema, Young Jonn and Zlatan Ibile.
According to Omori, the search for a suitable kidney donor lasted about nine months, during which six people volunteered but were ruled out because they were not compatible.
He said his brother eventually agreed to donate a kidney, but his body rejected the transplanted organ.
“After a mismatch, my brother donated, only for my body to reject the transplant,” he said.
“The doctor tried again, but it wasn’t responding, and my brother still has to live with only one kidney.”
Omori also spoke about the financial burden associated with managing kidney failure, particularly the cost of dialysis.
He said dialysis sessions cost between N50,000 and N70,000 at some hospitals, while each session at the private facility where he received treatment cost between N150,000 and N200,000.
The director explained that patients may require up to three dialysis sessions every week, putting the weekly cost of treatment at about N500,000, excluding additional expenses for tests and medication when complications arise.
He noted that the financial burden could be overwhelming even for someone earning N1 million a month, adding that patients often depend on support from family, friends and others to sustain their treatment.
“Money is actually important because I can’t lie to you; we’ve spent a lot of crazy money,” Omori said.
He added: “Even though money can’t buy happiness, money can still buy some time.”
Omori first publicly disclosed his battle with kidney failure in 2024, when he revealed that his brother had donated a kidney to him.
At the time, he reflected on his ordeal in a social media post, saying he hoped his designer outfits would conceal the scars from his treatment and assuring fans that he would return to work in 2025.
His disclosure attracted widespread support from fans and colleagues, who praised his resilience throughout the difficult period.
