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Popular Nollywood actor and director, Don Richards Oguntimehin, known to many as Don Richard, has called on Nigerians to come to his rescue.

In an interview on the ‘Talk to B’ podcast hosted by actress Biola Bayo, Don Richard passionately appealed to Nigerians to help him battle a kidney-related condition.

Speaking during the interview, he recounted his topsy-turvy world since discovering he has been diagnosed with a kidney disease.

According to him, despite growing up in Bariga, he never took to smoking.

“I was a fighter, and the only rule is that we must not smoke or drink alcohol. Because once your liver gets weak, your punching power will be reduced.

“The only thing I did back then was to drink herbal concoctions in the mornings. Sometimes I even use water to take my herbs instead of alcohol.

For two years now, I have stopped taking anything that has to do with alcohol. I don’t take soft drinks. I only take water,” he said.

However, despite being that careful, he suddenly started noticing some symptoms. He realised he was shrinking sometime last year. Sometimes his two legs would be swollen, and he didn’t even suspect anything serious.

“I just went to anchor a show and was lodged in a room. Around 1.05 am, it felt like someone was nailing my spinal cord. I managed to walk and was told to go for a check-up.

“It was then discovered that my bladder was getting larger and my kidney was beginning to have issues. When I heard, I was down and prayed not to die,” he narrated.

At that point, he was diagnosed and given some medication. Although his condition improved, he said, the ailment had already affected his legs.

“Just a little walk, and I would begin to feel pain. I travelled to Ibadan, where I stayed. One day, I started having hiccups from morning till the afternoon of the next day.

“I started getting weak. They took me to another hospital. I even thought I was going to die at the hospital because I passed out a few times. But the Holy Spirit was working in me.

They did a general check-up, and then I was told I would need dialysis, which costs about 40 to 50 million naira.

Following the revelation, the ‘Olugbare’ actor has passionately appealed to Nigerians for help.

He revealed that he had to sell his property to cover his medical expenses, and now he had nothing to fall back on.

“I have had to sell my house and drop the money so they could spend it. The money has now finished.

I even sold my car for 1.5 million, and now, at this point, if something goes wrong, I have nothing to sell for funds.

He also said that he had to plead with his wife not to abandon him, especially since she knew so much about his secrets, struggles, and journey.