Man sheds more than HALF his body weight to save his sister from kidney failure – as he reveals the secrets to his transformation
A loving brother lost nearly 250 pounds to qualify for an organ donation to save his sister after she was diagnosed with kidney failure.
Matthew Flanagan, 24, weighed more than 425 pounds as a teenager and once spent nearly $8,000 on takeout in a single year.
But when he was told he couldn’t donate a kidney to his sister Emma, he immediately sprang into action and decided to lose weight to qualify for a ‘kidney sharing program’.
The program allowed him to donate his organ to someone who was a match, giving Emma a greater chance of finding a match herself.
Matthew Flanagan, 24, attempted to lose more than half his body weight in a bid to help his sister get a new kidney
However, potential donors who are significantly overweight are at greater risk of complications from surgery, and obesity can compromise remaining kidney function in the long term.
Matthew had to lose hundreds of pounds before he could qualify. He went to work and succeeded.
He now weighs 93 kilos and has been admitted to the kidney sharing program.
He also bought his dream car, a classic Mini Cooper, but he previously couldn’t fit behind the wheel.
Matthew, who won Slimming World’s Man of the Year award after losing a whopping 230lb, said: ‘I was already losing weight when we were told my sister needed a transplant.
‘[But] that was a big turning point for me.
‘At the time my sister had kidney failure and I was eating myself to an early grave.
‘It was a lot for my family, so I’m glad he was there for me.
As a teenager, Matthew’s weight peaked at 437 pounds thanks to a diet of highly processed junk food and takeout
After losing weight to 200 pounds, Matthew was able to buy his dream car, a classic Mini Cooper, which he now fits into thanks to his weight loss
‘From that moment on I knew what I had to do. I had to make changes not only for my own long-term health, but also for Emma’s.
‘Her situation gave me the motivation and determination to lose weight so I could help her get a new kidney.’
Matthew gained weight by surviving on a diet of “processed, sugary foods,” admitting that he once spent nearly $8,000 a year on takeout.
His doctor told him he would be “lucky if I made it through the end of the year,” when he was only 19.
After Emma received her devastating diagnosis, he and his family were told they were not suitable candidates for a transplant because they did not have the same type of tissue as her.
Matthew, who works for an aviation company in the English town of Lymm in Cheshire, joined Slimming World to learn how to improve his eating habits.
He said: ‘When I heard that from my doctor, it really hit me. I started to realise that everything you do has a consequence and that I was leading myself down a dark path.
“I met a friend who looked great and told me he had lost weight thanks to Slimming World,” he explained.
‘I have found a huge support network in my group. It really feels like one big family.’
Now that he has lost weight, Matthew says he enjoys walking, has climbed Snowdon and Sca Fell and has even found love.
He added: ‘I used to sit in my room playing video games with the curtains closed. Now I can’t wait to get up and go for a walk.
‘I walk about four miles during my lunch break and some days I go for another walk with my dad when I get home.
‘I now have so many things I would like to do that I could only dream of before. I also felt more confident in myself, which meant I dared to show myself a bit more.
‘I have now met my girlfriend Anna, who is also a member of Slimming World, so we can keep each other on track.
‘When I look back at what my life was like before I lost weight, I don’t recognize that version of myself anymore.
‘A few years later and almost [238 pounds] lighter, I am finally accepted into the [UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme]so it is likely that later this year I will become a donor to someone who needs a kidney.
Although he was unable to donate a kidney to his sister, he lost the weight to qualify for a ‘kidney sharing program’ – giving his kidney to someone else to increase her chances
Matthew signed up for the Slimming World weight loss program and was named Slimming World Man of the Year for his success
“This will make a huge difference to my sister’s chances of getting a kidney of her own. To be able to help my sister in this way means everything.”
Matthew says he always found it difficult to eat healthily, as he had been caring for his mother since he was six and ate a lot of junk food.
He often skipped breakfast and ate snacks throughout the day, then picked up take-out food in the evening.
Since losing weight, he has bought a Racing Green Mini Cooper SPI, named Victory after his grandfather Victor.
He added: ‘My granddad and I used to go to car shows together and I always wanted to sit in the classic Mini Coopers, but I just didn’t fit in.
‘The week before I bought Victory, we went to a show and I finally got behind the wheel.
“My grandfather helped me cover the repair costs and is so happy with the progress I’ve made, so I thought it was only right to name the house after him.”
“I love riding Victory and reflecting on how far I’ve come. I’m still the same person, but I’ve opened a new chapter in my life.”
“I look forward to living life to the fullest, with my loved ones by my side. And if that isn’t a victory, I don’t know what is!”