The Tongan rugby player who was trapped in Romania on dialysis has had his life changed for the better after a successful kidney transplant.
Sione Vaiomounga was just one year into his rugby contract when the former Tongan national flanker developed kidney failure and found himself stuck in the city of Baia Mare because his home country had no dialysis facilities.
But his entire life has changed with news released this morning he has had a successful transplant.
Pacific Rugby Players Welfare announced the news on Twitter this morning.
"We are blessed to deliver news that Tongan player Sione Vaiomounga was the grateful recipient of a new Kidney after a transplant operation today," they said.
"Sione is recovering well & wishes to thank everyone who had faith this day would arrive."
Sione Vaiamounga is trapped in Romania with kidney failure because his home, Tonga, has no dialysis facilities.
Vaiomounga was trapped prior to the operation, with no visa to work and a tiny one room place to call him for himself, his partner and two sons.
The 29-year-old was also dependent on food banks and hand outs while he waits for a kidney donor.
When news first broke of Vaiomounga's situation, former Samoa Rugby international Daniel Leo visited him and set up a fundraising page for Vaiomounga which raised more than $55,000.
At the time, Vaiomo'unga said the offers made him so "emotional that some people still want to help, even if we don't know each other".
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