Fifteen-year-old Karli Marissa Chadwick awaits a kidney transplant from her donor — found just a month ago — but doesn’t let her health condition stand in her way of doing the things she enjoys.

Karli was first diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease after contracting Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome at the age of 2. She was transplanted with a kidney that failed after nine years because of a virus.

Karli has been waiting on a second transplant since January 2008. Since then, she has become freshman class president at Isabella High School, treasurer of the Beta Club, and a member of the SGA and FCCLA. Her favorite subjects are history and home economics, and she enjoys music, cooking, reading magazines, playing Nintendo DS games and hanging with her friends. She is also fond of going to museums.

“Because of dialysis we can’t take overnight trips, but there isn’t one museum in Alabama we haven’t been to,” said Kelly Chadwick, Karli’s mother.

In one word Chadwick describes her daughter as “feisty.”

“She is over the top, extremely smart and extremely organized,” Chadwick said. “She has one brother and two sisters, and she is the boss.”

Karli is a big help around the house. With plans to attend culinary school, Karli enjoys cooking and baking.

“She’s very mature for her age; she tells her brother and sisters when to clean, when to go to bed and etc. – she is a big help,” said Chadwick. “I am doing things for her that she can’t do for herself and she turns around and does stuff for me.”

Hopefully, Karli will be receiving the transplant by April, her mother said. The donor, Christy Jones Davenport, a 28–year–old single mother, has been reporting to UAB weekly and has been taking the necessary steps to prepare for the transplant.

Karli’s family is taking donations to reach a goal of $10,000 to help pay for medical expenses and lodging.

“We are just so excited and thankful because even the doctors said it was a miracle that we found a donor because Karli is antibody sensitive,” said Chadwick. “We tested almost 200 people in the last three years before we found a perfect match, and randomly the donor came to me on Facebook and said she wanted to test.”

Donations can be made to Karli’s account at any Regions Bank: Karli Chadwick-Fund Raiser-Clanton, Ala. or mail to 700 County Road 227, Clanton, AL 35045.