Toddler Who Looked Eight Months' Pregnant Because Of Rare Disease Saved By Kidney Donor Dad | HuffPost Life

'Any father would have done what I did.'

PA Real Life

A toddler who looked eight months' pregnant because of a rare disease has been saved thanks to her dad, who donated his kidney.

Maddy Rybkin, now two, was born with a condition called Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), which meant cysts grew on her kidneys causing her stomach to look enlarged.

Although Maddy's condition was managed early on, when she reached 18 months old her parents, Paul Rybkin, 38, and Karen Rodas, 38, were told she urgently needed a kidney transplant.

Luckily, her dad was identified as a donor and, following a life-saving operation in January 2016, she has recovered well.

"Any father would have done what I did, donating my kidney to Maddy," Rybkin said. "It’s part of being a parent.

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

PA Real Life

Maddy's large stomach before her transplant

Maddy’s parents, from New Jersey in the US, are both carriers of the recessive gene for PKD - a genetic condition that leads to the deterioration of kidney and liver function.

The couple found out they carried the recessive gene when Rodas, who is also mum to Jackson, nine, from a previous relationship, and one-year-old Penelope with Rybkin, - fell pregnant with their first child together, Nathaniel.

Rodas carried Nathaniel until full-term, but he died after just 36 hours.

“During my pregnancy with Nathaniel, we discovered we both carried the recessive gene PKD, meaning the chances of any of our babies surviving, if they were born with it, was very low,” Rodas said.

“He didn’t stand a chance. Just 36 hours after his first cry brought him to life on 4 August 2012, he was gone.”

Medics warned the couple if they tried for another baby, he or she would have a 25% chance of carrying the condition, too.

But Rodas and Rybkin didn't want to let go of their dream of having a big family.

“When I fell pregnant again, we were both over the moon,” Rodas explained.

“Then, at our 20-week scan, doctors 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.”

PA Real Life

Paul Rybkin, Karen Rodas and their three children since the transplant.

The family found a doctor in Philadelphia who knew how to look after babies with PKD.

In November 2013, they travelled to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for what should have been a routine scan at 33 weeks.

However, Rodas had to be induced to bring on labour early, to save Maddy as she had become entangled in the umbilical chord.

After 12 hours, Maddy arrived. Her stomach was bloated, which doctors said was a symptom of her condition.

Maddy was kept in hospital for seven weeks, and on Christmas Eve her parents surprised their family by bringing her home.

For the next year and a half, Maddy was a happy little girl who, despite still needing tubes and oxygen at home and regular hospital visits, was doing well.

But then her kidneys started to fail and a transplant was needed urgently.

After Rybkin was identified as a match, the operations took place on 19 January 2016.

“With Paul and Maddy, two of my most precious souls, going under the knife, my nerves were a wreck,” Rodas said.

“I kept thinking ‘What if something happens to them both? How will I cope?’”

Thankfully, both operations were a success.

And, after a few weeks of rest, Rodas said Maddy seemed like a completely different child.

Rodas continued: “Daddy's kidney has saved our little girl.

"She has boundless energy. Her massive tummy now just looks a little bit rounded and she is a happy and healthy two-year-old.

“She will need another transplant in 25 years, but that feels like a lifetime away.”

To follow Maddy’s journey, visit www.facebook.com/aKidneyForMadeline.

21 Rare Diseases

Stiff Person Syndrome(01 of20)

People who suffer from this acquired neurological disorder experience repeated, often painful, muscle spasms as well as muscular rigidity and stiffness. According to the National Organization of Rare Diseases, spasms can occur at random or they can be caused by something as seemingly benign as light physical contact or an unexpected noise. The cause of Stiff Person Syndrome isn't yet known, but symptoms can be stabilized with medication. Left untreated, however, a person can lose the ability to walk.

Gigantism(02 of20)

This disease, which according to the NIH is most often caused by a begnin tumor in the pituitary gland, results in an excess of GH, or growth hormone. This causes sufferers to grow abnormally large, not just in terms of height, weight but also organ size. It results in complications like delayed puberty, increased sweating, and secretion of breast milk.

Pica(03 of20)

Characterized as an eating disorder, Pica causes people to eat what the National Organization for Rare Disorders describes as "non-nutritive" things. That umbrella term can include (but isn't limited to) dirt, clay, paper, and paint. Interestingly, it's not unusual for young kids to experience transient pica as a kind of phase, and pregnant women are also known to develop temporary pica cravings. The cause? Unknown. But in order to be diagnosed with full-blown Pica, a person's symptoms must last for more than a month.

Maple Syrup Urine Disease(04 of20)

MSUD, which is passed down through families, is a life-threatening metabolic disorder passed down through families that stems from the body's inability to process certain amino acids, leading to a build-up of them in the body. According to the NIH, symptoms usually surface in early infancy and can include vomiting, lack of energy, seizures, and developmental delays. MSUD takes its name from another symptom -- the urine in affected infants smells like caramel or maple syrup.

Situs Inversus(05 of20)

Situs Inversus is a congential condition in which internal organs of stomach and chest lie in mirror image of their normal body position -- something many sufferers aren't aware of until they seek medical help for an unrelated problem. People with Situs Inversus typically wear some form of identification to help doctors in the case of a medical emergency.

Trigger Thumb(06 of20)

Trigger thumb, or trigger finger as it's sometimes known, causes a person's finger or thumb to get caught in a locked position. According to the Mayo Clinic, it can then stay stuck or straighten with a painful "snap." The cause? It depends. Trigger Thumb is the result of a narrowing of the sheath around the tendon in the problem figure, but that can be caused by a lot of things, including any activity that requires people to grip things frequently. Trigger Thumb is also more frequent in women.

Scurvy(07 of20)

Once the disease of sailors and pirates, scurvy does still exist in the United States, though predominantly in older, malnourished adults. It usually stems from a Vitamin C deficiency, which can result in gum disease, skin leisons, and swelling of the joints. (credit:Getty )

Wilson's Disease(08 of20)

This progressive genetic disorder causes sufferers to store excess copper in tissues, including the brain and liver. Though the Mayo Clinic says that the body depends on copper in order to use iron and sugar, too much of it in the body can have real consequences. Which is why sufferers of Wilson's Disease are prone to liver failure.

Foreign Accent Syndrome(09 of20)

According to researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas, this speech disorder causes people to experience a sudden shift in their accents and though it is known to be caused by things like brain trauma, conversion disorder, or multiple sclerosis, an exact reason behind the syndrome is unknown. Sufferers of FAS dramatically shift their speech in terms of timing and intonation, which often causes them to sound foreign, but they remain totally comprehensible. Documented accent shifts include from American English to British and from British to French.

Carcinoid Syndrome(10 of20)

According to the National Organization of Rare Diseases, about 10 percent of people with carcinoid tumors -- which the Mayo Clinic says are slow growing tumors that produce excess serotonin and usually appear in the gastrointestinal tract or lungs -- get this syndrome. It occurs only in patients whose tumors have metastasized to the liver. The symptoms? Wheezing, hotness, and extreme facial blushing.

Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome(11 of20)

Children and adults afflicted with CVS experience recurrent episodes of severe vomiting, which can last for days, followed by sudden periods of no vomiting. While kids are likely to experience more frequent attacks, adults's often last longer. To date, the cause of CVS is unknown.

Peeling Skin Syndrome(12 of20)

This obscure, genetic skin disorder does exactly what its name implies: causes sufferers to experience constant shedding of their skin. (In some patients, peeling is limited to the feet and hands.) Along with that, sufferers often feel itching and redness -- symptoms that can appear from birth or develop later in life. Although the exact cause is unknown, a mutation in the TGM5 gene has been identified in many sufferers.

Platelet Storage Pool Deficiency(13 of20)

This is a blanket designation for several rare platelet abnormalities, most of which lead to mild or moderate bleeding disorders. According to the NIH, the problem stems having limited granules -- the parts of platelets that, among other things, store ADP -- the energy released when a molecular bond is broken. That reduction in storage space inhibits the platelets' ability to secrete ADP in a speedy fashion, which is thought to be what causes the bleeding. Classic symptoms of a Platelet Storage Pool Deficiency are nosebleeds, excessive bruising, and profuse bleeding in surgery.·

ACDC(14 of20)

Only nine people in the United States are known to have this disease, which was just given a name in a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine. ACDC, or arterial calcification due to CD73 deficiency, results in calcium build-ups in the arteries below the waist of sufferers and in the joints of their hands and feet. According to the NIH, the breakthrough discovery found that the disease is related to a variant in the NT5E gene.3

Conversion Disorder(15 of20)

This condition, which typically occurs after an extremely stressful emotional event, causes a person to experience sudden blindness or paralysis that can't be otherwise explained. People with mental illlnesses are at particularly high risk and psychological treatment can help lessen the symptoms.·

Ochronosis(16 of20)

Ochronosis results in black or blue external tissues, often the ear cartilage or eye, though it can occur throughout the body. It affects people who suffer from certain metabolic disorders, but it can also be caused by exposure, though scientists aren't exactly sure to what. Not just a cosmetic issue, the affected areas can become brittle and degenerate over time.

VLCAD Deficiency(17 of20)

This condition, which is caused by genetic mutations in the so-called ACADVL gene, keeps people from converting certain fats to energy. According to the NIH, the deficiency often presents during infancy in symptoms including low blood sugar, weakness, and lethargy.

Hairy Tongue(18 of20)

As the name suggests, Hairy Tongue is a condition in which the tongue develops a black, hairy texture. According to the Mayo Clinic, the disease is "harmless" and is caused by an overgrowth of bacteria in the mouth, which can be treated with antibiotics. The NIH reports that hairy Tongue can also present as brown, yellow, or green discoloration. ·

Ochoa (Urofacial) Syndrome, or, Peculiar Facial Expression(19 of20)

This obscure, inherited disorder presents at birth and causes infants to grimace when, in fact, they are attempting to smile. The disorder also includes an extreme urinary abnormality: an obstruction that interrupts the connection between nerve signals in the spinal cord and bladder, leading to incontinence. Though treatment does exist in the form of antibiotics and bladder re-education, some patients can develop renal failure in their teens and 20's, which can be life-threatening.

Progeria(20 of20)

According to the Mayo Clinic, only around 130 cases of this devastating genetic disorder have been documented since it was discovered in 1886. Affected babies normally appear normal at birth, but within 12 months begin to have symptoms like hair loss and wrinkles. According to the Mayo Clinic, progeria is caused by a genetic mutation, but not one that's passed down through families; it's a chance event that affects only one egg or sperm. The average life expectancy for sufferers is 13.

Before You Go

Related

uk parents Family Children Dads child health

Suggest a correction

|