NHL insider shares a devastating update on his own health.

Insiders in the National Hockey League provide a valuable service to hockey fanatics, giving us a behind the scenes look at things around the league and putting out information that we wouldn't otherwise learn about if not for their diligent work.

When it comes to the Columbus Blue Jackets you would be hard pressed to find a better reporter than Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, who for years now has been on top of every major story to come out of Columbus. On Monday morning, Portzline broke a story of a different kind when he revealed that he was in failing health due to very severe kidney failure, announcing that it would be impacting his coverage of the Blue Jackets this season.

Portzline, in a lengthy message on social media, went into detail regarding his Stage 5 kidney failure and made it clear that he would not survive without a kidney transplant in the future.

Here is Portzline's message, unedited and in full:

I am not well.

I was diagnosed several years ago with a genetic kidney disease, but in recent months it has started to take control of my life. I'm now stage 5 (kidney failure) and relying on frequent dialysis to keep me alive until I can get a transplant. The Ohio State transplant team, my nephrologist Dr. Rima Kang, and the dialysis nurses at Fresenius Kidney Care, have been incredible throughout this process.

The purpose of going public is two-fold:

First, to let you know there will likely be interruptions in my Blue Jackets' coverage for The Athletic at some points) this season. My editors have been remarkably understanding, and colleagues will pick up the slack if/when I'm out of commission long-term.

More importantly, it's to raise awareness for the ways you can help.

At least 100,000 people in America alone are waiting for an organ transplant, and roughly 90,000 of them, like me, need a kidney. Did you know that most people can live a long, productive life with one good kidney?

I have been incredibly fortunate to have at least nine people step forward to see if they are a match to be my donor, an incredible gesture. We're still searching for a match.

Please consider becoming a donor, through direct/living donation or by declaring yourself a donor on your driver's license. Below are links with more information, but feel free to ask me any questions. You too can save a life!

Ohio: https://lifelineofohio.org/
U.S.: https://donatelife.net/
Direct donation: www.osuwexmedlivingdonor.org

It's never easy to see any member of the hockey community suffering like this and I sincerely hope that Portzline's life can be saved before it is too late.