Jets legend Nick Mangold was searching for kidney donor 12 days before his death

The New York sports world suffered a huge loss over the weekend with the death of Jets legend Nick Mangold at just 41 years old due to Kidney Disease.

Tragically, no one in his family shared his blood type, which complicated his desperate search for a kidney donor in his final days.

How is it conceivable that time ran out for a young athlete?

While we don't know everything about Mangold's death, we do know he reached out to the public 12 days before he died to ask for help finding a kidney.

"In 2006, I was diagnosed with a rare genetic kidney defect that has led to chronic kidney disease. After a rough summer, I'm undergoing kidney dialysis as we look for a kidney transplant. Unfortunately, I do not have any family able to donate at this time, which is why I'm reaching out to you. I am in need of a kidney donor with type O blood," he wrote.

45% of people have Type O, 34% have Type A, and 12% type B.

Type O can be a blessing and a curse.

"Blood type O patients face the longest wait times," transplant surgeon Dr. Matt Holzner with Mount Sinai said.

Dr. Holzner explained the type O dilemma.

"Because O is a universal donor so those kidneys can be donated to any group, but they can only receive kidneys from that blood type," Holzner said.

Holzner said around 100,000 people are on the waiting list for a kidney and despite years of organ donation, it still hasn't made much of a dent.

One thing organ donation sites want people to know is if you're willing to donate a kidney, but you're not a match for your loved one, you can sign up and give your kidney to a total stranger who is a match. Then your loved one is moved to the top of the list to get a kidney.

Kidney dialysis prolongs your life, but it also makes it hard to live.

Mangold wrote that he was on dialysis this summer.

Dr. Tara Narula, ABC News' chief medical correspondent, discussed the condition on "Good Morning America" on Monday.

"We don't talk a lot about chronic kidney disease," Narula said, highlighting the general widespread lack of awareness, despite it impacting so many people.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 7 U.S. adults suffers from the disease, totaling around 35.5 million people.

Narula said chronic kidney disease will often progress slowly and appear asymptomatic in its initial stages. She added that the disease is typically picked up by a blood or urine test.

The main risk factors associated with chronic kidney disease include diabetes, hypertension, obesity, smoking, family history, autoimmune conditions and genetic conditions, according to Narula.

Narula said symptoms often associated with the disease include bubbly or foamy urine, increased frequency of urination, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, shortness of breath and swelling of the eyes or legs.

Narula said disease management involves "controlling the underlying disease process that's causing the chronic kidney disease" and managing cardiovascular risk factors, which she said is the leading cause of death for people with chronic kidney disease.

According to Narula, there are about 90,000 people in the United States waiting for new kidney transplants, and roughly 12 people die every day while waiting.