Nathaniel, the son of Karen Rodas and Paul Rybkin, survived only 36 hours after birth.

He was born with polycystic renal disease (PKD), an uncommon illness that causes cysts to form in the kidneys, potentially leading to renal failure.

The New Jersey couple had another child, Maddy, in 2013, who had the same problem as their first kid, but after a two-year battle with the sickness, her father provided a lifeline.

Maddy Rbykin’s ailment caused her tummy to enlarge, and she spent the first 18 months of her life in and out of the hospital.

Despite the hospital trips, tubes, and oxygen treatments, Maddy was doing well until her condition deteriorated.

According to The Mirror, Maddy was totally exhausted, sleeping up to 18 hours every day and vomiting continuously.

Doctors thought she would die unless a suitable kidney donor could be located.

Successful surgery.

Paul, her father, later proved to be a match and successfully performed the life-saving surgery on his daughter.

“With Paul and Maddy, two of my most precious souls, going under the knife, my nerves were a wreck,” Karen told The Mirror.

The procedure was successful, and both father and daughter are doing well.

“Daddy’s kidney has saved our little girl,” Karen explained. “Now she has limitless vitality. Her huge belly now seems slightly rounded, and she is a happy and healthy two-year-old.”

A humble Paul stated that he would have done the same as any other father.

‘Happy and healthy, tiny child.’

“We’ve been on a rollercoaster, but any father would have done what I did: donate my kidney to Maddy.” “It’s part of being a parent,” he told The Mirror.

See who graduated from preschool today!! It’s hard to imagine our tiny baby is about to enter kindergarten…

Posted by A Kidney For Madeline on Tuesday, June 18, 2019.

“Now we are on a high and can watch Maddy grow up as a happy and healthy little girl.”

Maddy will require another kidney transplant in 25 years, but her parents consider it a “lifetime away.”

You can follow Maddy’s journey here, where her mother continues to provide updates—it’s wonderful to see her growth and how she’s doing now, in 2023.

I’m so glad that something could be done. Bless her and her father, too!

Please let me wish my lovely child a very happy birthday! She turns nine today! I realize I haven’t provided an update in quite some time.

Published by A Kidney For Madeline on Monday, November 7, 2022.