An effort is underway to find a donor for a Gwinnett County teen who is in need of a second kidney transplant.

Ramonie Smith, 16, spends 12 hours every day undergoing dialysis in her Duluth home.

At 16-months-old, she was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease called Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis or FSGS that required her first transplant by age 5.

“Through everything I’ve been through, I’ve found peace in everything because I know I have God on my side,” she tells WSB’s Sandra Parrish.

But the toll of the disease and dialysis has also affected her heart. That’s why her mom, Melissa, says it’s imperative she find a donor as soon as possible.

“She’s been on dialysis now for a little over two years. She’s just had a lot of issues—respiratory issues and things that we’ve been working on to get her to a good state of health so she’s strong enough to get a transplant,” she says.

Doctors have finally given the go ahead for testing to begin to find a donor. It’s believed only one percent of the population could be a match.

Her grandmother, Brenda Sharpe, has been working to get the word out for people to be tested and two billboard companies have offered to donate space around metro Atlanta.

“Just feel confident that if we can find a donor for her, everything will be okay,” she says.

Anyone interested in getting tested can do so at https://www.emoryhealthcare.org/centers-programs/kidney-transplant-program/living-donor.html. You will need to give Ramonie's name and her date of birth of May 20, 2002. You can also call 317-492-1217.