Mark's Story: 'Every bit of help is life-changing'
Mark Pendlebury is no stranger to severe weather, but Hurricane Helene was something else. The historic storm went straight through Augusta, Ga., in September 2024, and completely devastated his community.
"You couldn't see five feet in front of you because the rain was so bad," Mark recalled. Helene damaged his house and yard, and he and his wife spent a week without power.
Another concern: Would Mark be able to continue dialysis? He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 4 and received a dual kidney and pancreas transplant in his mid-30s. But a severe bout of COVID-19 in 2022 required doctors to pause his immunosuppressants, and his donated kidney failed.
Mark was relieved to learn a dialysis center was still accepting patients after the hurricane hit, just 10 minutes away from his usual clinic. The hardest part of surviving Helene was replacing his family's refrigerated and frozen food.
Everyone descended on the neighborhood's lone open grocery store. "You had to wait for a shopping cart," Mark shared. "I've never seen anything like it before in my life."
The former restaurant manager has been unable to work while he awaits another kidney transplant, so money is tight. But then Mark's social worker told him about the AKF Disaster Relief Fund.
"It was great because I had just spent a lot on groceries and had no money left for bills. Every penny I got was extremely helpful and helped relieve so much stress," Mark said of the grant.
He wants AKF supporters to know:
"Every bit of help is life-changing to so many people. Thank you!"