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Dad Loses 80 Pounds To Become A Kidney Donor For His Son

April 10, 2023

A father Arviat, Canada, has been approved to be his son's kidney donor after losing 75 pounds.

Before weight loss | Credit: Kivalliq News/Facebook

16-year-old Hunter Kablutsiak was diagnosed with stage 5 kidney disease in 2020. His kidney was operating at 16 percent.

His father, Daniel Kablutsiak, was a blood type match, but there was one problem.

"I was overweight," said Daniel, who at the time was 275 pounds.

To be a donor, he had to get his weight under 200 pounds.

"I was determined. I really love him, and I put my mind into it — 'I'm going to do it,' and I went at it," Daniel told the CBC.

After weight loss | Credit: Kivalliq News/Facebook

In March, about one year after he started his weight-loss regimen, he had reached his goal. He now weighs 195 pounds.

Daniel got the call on his birthday last month, confirming that he was accepted as an organ donor for Hunter.

The transplant is scheduled for June.

"I'm pumped up," said Daniel. "I'm really, really happy for my son. I don't care about myself, but as for my son, donating a kidney so he can be a regular teenager without having to take these 10 pills a day and stuff like that, while being active and an aggressive hockey player… I just can't wait until his strife is over."

Daniel said he did it all for the love of his son.

"I was determined," he said. "Lots of work, lots of walking. Challenging at times mentally, but for the love of my son I just kept pushing myself, and it's paying off now."

Daniel says he hopes to be an inspiration to anybody else who's struggling to make some necessary change in their life.

"Whatever it is, just put your mind into it and go for it," he said. "If I can do it, anybody else can do it."