01/23/2023
Good afternoon family and friends! I wanted to start sharing a piece of my Pastor/Big Brother RS Polk Jr's story. I ask that you take a moment to read and then sign up to be a living donor. Again, this is Phase 1 and what we are asking is for everyone to register first and then Phase 2 we will share with more information on checking to see if you're an actual match. We thank you in advance for the prayers and love during this miraculous journey and should you need any further details on how to register, do not hesitate to reach out to me via phone, text or email or dm me on FB or IG. Also please share this post with your family and friends!
https://nkr.donorscreen.org
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Hello, my name is Robert S. Polk Jr. I am the Senior Pastor at Soul's Harvest Church of Miracles and Deliverance for 21 years. I am happily married to my beautiful wife Rhonda of 25 years. I am a graduate of Christ for the Nations, I am a Father of five, a Pawpaw, inventor, and entrepreneur.
Some of you may not know that I have kidney disease and is causing my kidneys not to work well enough to continue a healthy life. This is what I am facing now, and my treatment options are limited to dialysis or a kidney transplant.
A transplant would give me more time to do the fun things I enjoy most, like spending time with my family and friends and church.
However, finding a kidney for a transplant is not easy. Just ask the 100,000+ people on the waiting list for a deceased donor kidney like me. Time is not on our side. Some wait for years; many die while waiting. The average wait time is five years or more for a kidney from a deceased donor. However, there is another option: receiving a kidney from a living donor.
Asking a family member or a friend to consider donating a kidney to me is difficult, but it greatly improves my chances of getting a transplant. A living kidney donation typically lasts longer and has better function.
You might not know a lot about living donation - I know I didn’t before kidney disease affected my life. Understandably, some people are afraid about the surgery and what living with one kidney will mean for them. Here’s some basic information about kidney donation:
• You only need one kidney to live a healthy, long life.
• Most donor surgery is done laparoscopically, meaning through tiny incisions.
• The recuperation period is usually fairly quick, generally two weeks.
• The cost of your evaluation and surgery will be covered by my insurance. The hospital can give you extensive information on this.
• You will have a separate team of healthcare professionals to evaluate you as a living donor. Their job is to help you understand the risks and benefits and look out for YOUR best interests.
The first step in this process it getting everyone registered as a living donor and you can do that here and following all instructions:
https://nkr.donorscreen.org/register/now?src=nkf
You can also learn more about living donation on the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) website: www.kidney.org/livingdonation or by contacting the NKF’s free, confidential helpline at 855.NKF.CARES (855.653.2273) or [email protected]. If you want to talk to someone who’s already donated a kidney, NKF can also help.
Again, this is the first step getting my story out here and getting people registered as a living donor. I will then follow up with the next phase of what happens next.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story.
Thank you,
Senior Robert Polk Jr. & First Lady Rhonda Polk
Soul's Harvest C.O.M.A.D.
