Little Girl Who Looked 8 Months Pregnant Due to Rare Disease Gets a Second Chance Thanks to Her Father’s Kidney
Every parent’s greatest hope is for their child to live a healthy, joyful life. But for Karen Rodas and Paul Bybkin, their journey into parenthood began with unimaginable heartbreak.
Their first child, a son named Nathaniel, was born with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) — a rare genetic disorder that causes cysts to form in the kidneys and often leads to kidney failure. Sadly, baby Nathaniel lived just 36 hours.
In 2013, the couple welcomed their daughter, Maddy. But their relief turned to fear when doctors revealed that she, too, was born with PKD — the same condition that had taken her brother.
Maddy’s stomach was so distended that it resembled that of a woman in the late stages of pregnancy, despite her being just a toddler.
For most of her early life, Maddy was in and out of hospitals. She was often too weak to stay awake for more than a few hours at a time, sleeping up to 18 hours a day.
Doctors made it clear: her only hope was a kidney transplant. And in a twist of fate, her father Paul was a perfect match.
💬 “With Paul and Maddy — two of my most precious souls — going under the knife, my nerves were a wreck,” Karen shared.
Thankfully, the transplant surgery was a complete success. Maddy made a full recovery, and her quality of life was transformed.
Her once-swollen belly is now just a little round, and she is bursting with energy like any healthy two-year-old.
💬 “Daddy’s kidney saved our little girl,” Karen said joyfully. “Now she has boundless energy and a new chance at life.”
Paul, however, humbly insists he simply did what any father would do.
💬 “Any parent would do the same,” he said. “Now we can finally watch Maddy grow up, healthy and happy.”
While Maddy may need another transplant in 20 to 25 years, her future is bright — and filled with the love of a family that never gave up.
❤️ Stories like this remind us of the strength of family, the power of love, and the miracle of modern medicine.
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