By the looks of it, she has the same worries any other teenager has…which color to paint her toenails…will she do well on today’s pop quiz…
But if you look behind this innocent face, you'll find more worries than most adults can handle. While all of her friends think about what to wear to school, Karli Chadwick is thinking of her trip to Children's Hospital.
Karli’s mother, Kelly, said, "As of January 2008, Karli became in need of another kidney transplant. She had her first transplant before her 4th birthday and it's just declined through the years.
Karli has been under the knife twice. The first time for hemodialysis…this procedure would have made life a little easier for the 13-year-old by putting her on blood dialysis for five hours a day, three days out of the week.
But that procedure failed. Earlier this month doctor's placed a peritoneal catheter in her stomach. Now Karli has to do dialysis for 12 hours every night until a kidney donor is found.
"I wish I didn't have to do 12 hours a night, but I understand it’s something I have to do," said Karli.
"The tubing that's in her tummy…it's just as simple as connecting her to it and then her being connected to the machine for 12 hours. It will put the fluid in her stomach and draw the poison's out through a process. I can't go anywhere without my cell phone, because I don't know when they're gonna call me. So it's kind of like living on eggshells waiting," Kelly said.
One phone call led Kelly to this site
www.kidneydonor-kidneymatchmaker.com where as many as 51 possible donors have contacted Karli's transplant coordinator. And even though there hasn't been a match, the family is grateful for each attempt.
“I would like to say thanks for everyone who has tried to donate and who are willing to and for the prayers and support," said Karli.
Since this is Karli's second time needing a kidney, her antibodies are much higher…making it much harder for her to find a match. However, her friends say if it comes down to it they'll be there for her no questions asked.
"If they couldn't find her a donor a few years from now and I’m old enough I would donate her one b/c she's like my best friend," said Destinie Parker.
"I love her and I’m sad that she doesn't get to come to school and I’m praying for her and hoping she finds a kidney and has a full life and lives like a normal kid," said Brandi Robinson.
A second transplant will not cure Karli but it will extend her life, which every loving parent in this situation would pray for...holding on to every precious second you're blessed to have.
“I would hope it lasts the rest of her life because if it was this hard to get her second transplant then it will be even harder for her third,” said Kelly.
“It would mean that I wouldn't have to worry about being sick. I can just be a kid again," said Karli.
If you're interested in finding out if you're a match for Karli Chadwick, you can call her transplant coordinator Cindy Richards at Children's Hospital at 205-939-6794.
