For years Kerry Cable struggled with her weight, but when her daughter’s life depended on it, she knew she had to turn things around
As she stroked her poorly daughter’s face, Kerry Cable vowed to do whatever she could to save her little girl. Paige was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease when she was just 11 – and to be able to donate her kidney, Kerry had to finally take control of her diet and lose weight.
After swapping sweet treats for healthy alternatives, cutting down on her portion sizes and taking up exercise, Kerry lost an incredible 6st, before being wheeled into theatre, ready to give her daughter the gift of life.
Thankfully, the transplant was a success and four months on, Kerry and Paige’s bond is more special than ever. Kerry, 50, says, “I’m so proud of how I saved my daughter’s life and changed my own.”
Growing up, Kerry was a healthy size 10 and very active, but after falling pregnant at 19 with her son, she began indulging in double portions at mealtimes and developed constant cravings for sugar.
She says, “I snacked on sweets and chocolate and soon ballooned to a size 18.
“By the time I gave birth, I’d gained 5st and being a busy working mum to a newborn meant I didn’t have a minute to myself, let alone time to plan how I was going to lose weight.”
CRAVINGS
Kerry, who was a regional sales manager, would spend her day driving around the country and would often eat at service stations. She recalls, “I’d go to Burger King or McDonald’s, and when I got home I’d be so tired I’d usually order a takeaway.
“When I split up with my son’s dad in 1994, there was even less time for me to put my health first, so my bad eating habits continued, and I had no energy or motivation to exercise and eat healthily.”
Aged 28, Kerry fell pregnant again with a new partner, who she has since split from. She was stunned to discover she was having twins, but sadly lost one baby when she was 11 weeks into her pregnancy.
Kerry says, “I was heartbroken when the doctor blamed my weight – Iwas 13st 3lbs by then – so I tried to be more careful. I was thrilled when Paige was born happy and healthy.”
But Kerry’s world was turned upside down in 2013 when Paige, then aged 11, was diagnosed with chronic
kidney disease. She says, “The doctor said she’d need to be monitored closely for the rest of her life as her kidney function was only at 22 per cent.
“I asked whether I could give her one of my kidneys if she needed a transplant, but I was told there was no way I’d qualify as I
