Every parent’s greatest hope is for their children to be healthy and enjoy a happy childhood. But for Karen Rodas and Paul Bybkin, their joy turned to heartbreak when their son Nathaniel, born with a serious kidney condition called Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), passed away just 36 hours after birth.
PKD causes cysts to grow on the kidneys, which can lead to kidney failure, and that’s exactly what happened to baby Nathaniel.
In 2013, Karen and Paul had a daughter, Maddy. Sadly, their worst fears came true again—Maddy was born with the same condition that took her brother. Her stomach became so swollen that it looked as though she was nine months pregnant. This left her parents heartbroken, but this time, there was hope.
Unlike Nathaniel, Maddy was given a second chance at life, thanks to her father. Paul was a perfect match to donate one of his kidneys to his daughter, and that decision changed everything.
Before the surgery, Maddy spent most of her young life in and out of hospitals. She was so weak that she slept up to 18 hours a day. The doctors told her family that her chance of living a normal life depended on finding a suitable kidney donor—and Paul was that match.
“With Paul and Maddy, two of my most precious souls, going under the knife, my nerves were a wreck,” Karen recalled, according to The Mirror. Thankfully, the surgery was a success, and both father and daughter recovered well.
“Daddy’s kidney has saved our little girl,” Karen added. “Now, she has boundless energy. Her massive tummy now just looks a little bit rounded and she is a happy and healthy two-year-old.”
Paul, on the other hand, sees his donation as simply being part of fatherhood. “We have been on a rollercoaster – but any father would have done what I did, donating my kidney to Maddy. It’s part of being a parent,” he said.
Now, the family can look forward to watching Maddy grow up, healthy and strong. Though doctors say she might need another kidney transplant in about 25 years, for now, she has many years ahead to enjoy life to the fullest.
We are so happy for this wonderful family and wish them all the happiness in the world. Feel free to share this heartwarming story with your loved ones to spread positivity and well-being.
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