Daniel Of Sweden On Illness: "It's Terrible Not To Be Healthy"
In February 2009, Prince Daniel became engaged to Princess Victoria of Sweden, followed two months later by his organ transplant. Now he talks about his illness.
Transcript
00:00 For his upcoming 50th birthday on September 15th, Prince Daniel gives a very private interview.
00:07 Swedish journalist Carina Bergfeld had the chance to ask him questions.
00:12 He doesn't mince his words and talks about his marriage to Princess Victoria, but also about his kidney disease.
00:19 More open than ever, he shares details on his illness.
00:24 Princess Victoria's husband has suffered from a serious kidney disease since childhood.
00:30 In 2009, the year he got engaged, he had to undergo a transplant.
00:36 It was announced in February that he and Victoria were getting married, and in May he had to undergo kidney surgery.
00:43 The donor was his father Algunar Westling.
00:47 Before the surgery, he felt sick but thankfully felt better right after.
00:52 "I don't notice it today, any more than you take medicine every day for the kidney to thrive."
00:58 Today he is grateful that there was never a setback after the transplant.
01:03 The prince has to take medication every day to keep his replacement kidney working.
01:09 The incident shaped the former fitness trainer and he has been the owner of an organ donor card ever since.
01:15 "I was lucky, there are hundreds of people waiting in line to get an organ."
01:20 With the organ donor card, he wants to be a role model for many Swedes.
01:25 Daniel was very lucky, but he is well aware.
01:29 "This stress, it's terrible not to be healthy and then have to wait year after year."
01:35 Some do not survive because of the wait for their organ, says Daniel.
01:40 [Music]