Nick Mangold turning to Jets mentality in kidney donor search

He was the indestructible rock who played center for 11 years for the Jets, played 89 consecutive games at one point, was a seven-time Pro Bowler, an Ohio kid who previously had lived his football dream playing for Ohio State.

Now Nick Mangold needs your help.

Nick Mangold needs a kidney.

Nick Mangold needs a donor.

“I assumed I’d be like 60 or so before it came up, but it’s reared its ugly head now, sooner than I thought it would,” Mangold told The Post on Tuesday afternoon.

It reared its ugly head at age 41 for Mangold, married with four children. He kept his health concern quiet all those years he brought honor to his family and to the Jets, knowing he carried chronic kidney disease inside him since 2006.

“I don’t think anybody knew about it other than the doctors and my family. … I didn’t want any cloud hanging over anything that I did,” Mangold said.

The urgency of his plight compelled Mangold’s public plea for help.

“Over the summer I had lost about 35 pounds over two months, and my red blood cell count dropped to about half of what is supposed to be normal,” Mangold said. “I was very fatigued and having dizzy spells and nausea and everything and so I went to the doctor.”

The doctor gave him the worst possible news: “We need to go on dialysis and we need to start the process to find a new kidney,” Mangold recalled.

Asked if it was frightening to him, Mangold said: “Oh very much so. Getting told to go to the hospital immediately was not a great phone call to get. I don’t particularly like surgery, so that’s always scary. You put the trust in the doctors’ hands.”

He spent five days in late August at Morristown Medical Center. When and if a donor is found, the surgery will be at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.

“We did three rounds of dialysis to get me started before switching to an outpatient dialysis center,” Mangold said.

Where he goes three times a week.

Mangold’s voice cracks when he talks about his children — Matthew, 14; Eloise, 11; Thomas, 9; and Charlotte, 7 — and how he and his wife, Jenny, have guided them all through this.

“‘Daddy just needs to get his oil changed,’ and that seemed to lighten the blow for them a little bit,” Mangold said. “My youngest son thinks I’m kinda part robot with the catheter.”

Mangold had been coaching the offensive line at Delbarton School, but had to step aside.

“I’m better than I was in August,” he said. “I’m back to being a functioning human, which is great. Doing dialysis three times a week, it’s a taxing experience.”

Mangold was a fighter every step of the way, and he plans on being a fighter now.

“I think I’m taking that next step with this process,” he said. “The diet is very different, your lifestyle’s different having to go through dialysis three times a week, that’s a job kind of in itself.

“Attacking this process with the same mentality that I had throughout my career.”

Jenny was his high school sweetheart.

“She’s the rock,” Mangold said. “She makes it all happen. Without everything that she’s done, I’d probably be in a gutter somewhere, so … she’s an incredible person.”

Mangold is not on a list for a new kidney.

“I’m hoping for a living donor that is found,” he said.

Asked about the urgency of his situation, Mangold said: “It’s more just to get it done, rather than life-or-death situation. Apparently you can be on dialysis for many years. It’s quality of life that we’re looking at.”

Mangold was always one of the most popular Jets.

“In a weird way I’m actually kinda fortunate that I have a path to recovery,” he said. “There’s a lot of people that go through illness and different things that there isn’t a direct path to how you get better. I have a direct path, I just need to go on that path.

“It’s something that I feel now I think a little bit more empowered to talk about, that it’s really affecting me, for people that it’s also affecting. Because there’s plenty of people out there that deal with chronic kidney disease in everyday life. I played 11 years with chronic kidney disease, and now, if I have the opportunity to share that message, that I was able to do things that I wanted to do while dealing with it, that they can do things as well.”

Mangold’s Plea For Help:

To my NY Jets & Ohio State Buckeye communities,

This isn’t an easy message to share, but I want to be open about what’s been happening with me and my health.

In 2006, I was diagnosed with a genetic defect that has led to chronic kidney disease. After a rough summer, I’m undergoing dialysis as we look for a kidney transplant. I always knew this day would come, but I thought I would have had more time.

Unfortunately, I do not have any family able to donate at this time, so this is why I’m reaching out to you, our NY Jets and Ohio State communities. I am in need of a kidney donor with type O blood. If you are willing to find out if you could be a match and donate a kidney to me please go to this site https://columbiasurgery.org/kidney-transplant and click the link to indicate I WANT TO DONATE MY KIDNEY. Use my full name, Nicholas Mangold, and my birthday, 1/13/1984. I am deeply grateful to anyone that would consider donating.

Most of all, I’m thankful for my family, who have been my rock every step of the way. This situation has reminded me how lucky I am to have such an amazing family, friends, and community behind me.

While this has been a tough stretch, I’m staying positive and focused on the path ahead. I’m looking forward to better days and getting back to full strength soon. I’ll see you all at MetLife Stadium & The Shoe.