THE WOODLANDS, TX (KTRK) -- We first met Halle just days after the Christmas presents were opened as she reminded us of her biggest unfulfilled wish.
"A new kidney," said Halle.
The weeks and months following have been full of anxious moments.
"We tested my mom and that didn't work," said Halle's mom Christine Clinkenbeard.
An uncle...
"It was pretty devastating."
And then a cousin from Tennessee's offer became Halle's greatest hope.
"It's really brought us so much closer because to be honest we really didn't know each other that well," said Clinkenbeard.
Casey Palmer is a television photojournalist at WBBJ in Jackson, Tennessee.
"For whatever reason God made us with two kidneys and one of them we can spare," he said.
The match brought him to Houston.
"She's such a pleasant and sweet girl she makes it all easy," said Palmer
But it's the gift that pulls the heartstrings here.
"My kidney might walk her down the aisle. It's a no brainer, it really is," he said.
At their Woodlands home he was welcomed by a sign of outward gratitude.
This 11-year-old girl has only known a life of surgeries and medications after being born with a rare genetic kidney disease that has limited about every aspect of childhood.
"Swim, yeah she hasn't been able to swim for two summers," said Clinkenbeard.
She lived 9 years with her mother's kidney before things took a turn for the worse now dreaming of some of life's simple pleasures.
"Pancakes probably piled with ice cream, no pancakes piled with syrup," said Halle.
It was transplant morning at Texas Children's Hospital doctors know Halle's case is a challenging one.
"We hope Halle will be able to do anything she wants to do. She'll be able to go to school, ride a bike and go on vacation," said Dr. Eileen Brewer with Texas Children's Hospital.
It's a time of mixed feelings as final kisses go by too quickly anxious moments for the hours ahead.
Casey's kidney has been removed and Halle is now facing that storm she wrote about -- head on.