PIKE COUNTY, Ala. (WSFA) - Almost all pediatric kidney transplants are successful, but the path before and while waiting for the organ is tiresome. That's what Charli Barron, a seventh grader from Pike Liberal Arts School, is facing. From the outside, she looks and sounds like any 12-year-old.
"I love softball, volleyball, I'm outgoing" she said.
Charli loves her friends, TikTok, and a really good manicure, but the tough tween has faced many battles medically since she was born.
"We spent a lot of weeks in Children's (Hospital) from when she was 5 weeks old up until now," said her mother, Kelley Barron.
Charli has urinary reflux, which affects her kidneys. It was around this time in 2023 that she had a kidney infection, which tests showed she was facing stage 4 kidney failure.
"Change in energy level, just giving out very easy, appetite, she's lost a lot of weight," said her mom.
Once Charli reached stage 5, she was given a dialysis port.
"I was thinking that I knew I had to get dialysis, and I was kind of worried," Charli said.
There's nothing this 12-year-old can't do though.
"They hook up like tubes to the port and then they pump the blood, but you can't feel it," she said.
Since her return from Children's Hospital, Pike County has rushed to support her. Families at Pike Liberal Arts donated money, while her classmates gave her a gift basket with handmade cards.
"There is genuine concern and care about each individual student because they are individuals, and since we are a small school, our students are here, some of them from K-3 through 12th grade, and you are on that life journey with them," said Pike Liberal Arts School Assistant Amy Allen.
"Thank you for doing all that you did and getting me all that stuff, because I know that had to be a lot of money. Just thank you for supporting," Charli said.
Charli receives dialysis three times a week in Birmingham, all while keeping up with her schoolwork in Troy.
To contact Troy Bank and Trust to give to the Barron Fund, call 334-566-4760.