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Father Donates to 14-Year-Old Son Who Had Kidney Removed

  • June 19, 2017

A father and son spent this Father’s Day celebrating a very special bond created after the father donated a kidney to the 14-year-old son. The child was diagnosed with “solitary kidney” when he was born, and functioned normally for many years until it became apparent that the single kidney needed replacing, ABC 13 reports. When it came time to find a donor, the father was a perfect match.

This is a feel-good story that just can’t be beat, and while it’s impossible to know ahead of time whether you’re going to be born missing a kidney, it is possible to take steps, now, to keep your kidneys in tip-top shape. Good kidney function is essential for maintaining homeostasis in your body, including your pH level and electrolyte balance; your kidneys also produce hormones that make red blood cells and regulate blood pressure.

Poor kidney function is associated with diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. Common signs of kidney problems include frequent urination, problems urinating and constant thirst. One way to protect your kidneys is to monitor the amount of protein and fructose that you eat: Most Americans consume three to five times more protein than they need, and two to four times more fructose than is safe. These two dietary factors place significant stress on your kidneys, promoting kidney disease and stones.

Restrict protein to just what your body needs. An ideal protein intake is likely around one-half gram of protein per pound of lean body mass, which for most is 40 to 70 grams a day. Restrict fructose to 25 grams per day (about 6 teaspoons), or less (especially if you're insulin/leptin resistant), and make sure to eat plenty of whole, fresh veggies every day. Garlic and onions, cabbage and kale, green tea and olive oil are some of the foods containing high amounts of free radical-zapping antioxidants that can help detoxify your kidneys.