A Father’s Gift: How One Dad Saved His Daughter’s Life
What began as a family’s heartbreaking journey through loss has become a story of courage, hope, and the unbreakable bond between a father and his daughter. Karen Rodas and Paul Rybkin endured the unimaginable when their first child, Nathaniel, passed away just 36 hours after birth from Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) — a rare genetic disorder that causes kidney failure.
Determined to try again, the couple welcomed their daughter, Maddy, in 2013. But tragedy struck once more: Maddy was also diagnosed with PKD. For the first 18 months of her life, she spent more time in hospitals than at home, enduring tubes, oxygen treatments, and countless medical procedures.
Despite her resilience, Maddy’s condition suddenly worsened. She slept up to 18 hours a day and struggled with constant vomiting. Doctors warned that a kidney transplant was her only chance of survival.
Then came a life-saving discovery: Paul was a perfect match. Without hesitation, he agreed to donate his kidney.
“With Paul and Maddy, two of my most precious souls, going under the knife, my nerves were a wreck,” Karen recalled.
The surgery was a success. Today, Maddy is a healthy, energetic toddler.
“Daddy’s kidney has saved our little girl,” Karen said. “Her once-massive tummy now looks just a little rounded, and she’s thriving.”
Paul, ever humble, said:
“Any father would have done what I did. It’s just part of being a parent.”
A New Chapter
Maddy has since graduated preschool and is preparing for kindergarten — milestones her parents once feared she might never reach. While another transplant may be needed decades from now, Karen and Paul are focused on the present: watching their daughter grow, laugh, and live a full, vibrant life.
Their story is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary lengths parents will go to protect their children — and how a single act of love can transform an entire life.