Doting dad’s kidney became the lifeline for Maddy Rbykin, born with an enormous stomach caused by Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). Tragically, her parents‘ first child succumbed to the same condition within 36 hours of birth. An urgent transplant was her only hope.
Maddy’s appearance resembled that of a woman in her eighth month of pregnancy.
Born on November 7, 2013, Maddy had kidneys three times larger than an adult’s. Throughout her first 18 months, American toddler Maddy suffered from extreme fatigue, excessive sleep, a swollen abdomen, and daily vomiting.
She experienced nightly bouts of vomiting.
Facing a grim prognosis, Maddy’s life took a hopeful turn when her father, Paul Rybkin, a deli owner from New Jersey, emerged as a suitable kidney donor, says The Sun. She underwent a life-saving operation. Unaware of their status as carriers for PKD, a recessive gene causing cysts and potential organ failure, Maddy’s parents discovered the condition during their pregnancy with their son Nathanial.
Unfortunately, he passed away a mere 36 hours after his birth. Doctors delivered the heartbreaking news to the couple, informing them of the 25% risk that their future children could also inherit the same condition.
Karen Rodas, the mom, expressed: “The chances of any of our babies surviving, if they were born with it, was very low. Nathanial didn’t stand a chance. Just 36 hours after his first cry brought him to life, he was gone.”
Despite already being parents to Jackson Zarsky, nine, from Karen’s previous relationship, and Penelope, one, the high school sweethearts were eager to expand their family further.
Karen said: “When I fell pregnant again, we were both over the moon. Then, at our 20 week scan, they found Maddy’s kidneys were enlarged – a sure-sign of PKD, just like Nathaniel. My heart sank. I was determined we didn’t lose our baby to the deadly disease again.”
Despite facing a challenging situation, the family firmly rejected the option of abortion and diligently sought out a PKD expert doctor based in Philadelphia.
On November 7, 2013, they visited the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for a routine 33-week scan. However, due to the risk of Maddy getting tangled in the umbilical cord, Karen was induced into early labor. After a long 12-hour wait, Maddy was born with a severely bloated stomach. She remained in the hospital for seven years, finally being discharged on Christmas Eve.
Her doting dad’s kidney was a match and saved her life.
Maddy’s initial stability and regular medical care were abruptly disrupted when her kidneys unexpectedly failed, necessitating immediate surgery.
Karen said: “With Paul and Maddy, two of my most precious souls, going under the knife, my nerves were a wreck. I kept thinking: ‘What if something happens to them both? How will I cope?’”
Fortunately, both surgeries were successful, leading to Maddy’s full recovery.
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