“My daughter was diagnosed in April with a genetic disorder called tuberous sclerosis,” Kimber’s mom, Kim Rayford, wrote to The Gazette. “… My daughter has become an epileptic from this.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, tuberous sclerosis is a rare disease that causes noncancerous, or benign, tumors to grow on various body parts, such as the skin, brain and kidneys. Signs and symptoms may include patches of light-colored skin, seizures or behavior problems, depending on where the tumors develop.

Rayford said that when they found out Kimber had tumors growing in her kidneys and brain, she didn’t take the news as well as her daughter did.

“She is very strong,” Rayford wrote. “While I was crying she just told me, ‘Mom, it is what it is.’ … Kimber signed research papers at the children’s hospital so that they can use her information for study, which is great

“Kimber is more than a great kid; she is AWESOME. She has taken this newfound information and is not letting it bring her down or destroy her dreams.”

Kimber’s mom said doctors told her that finding tuberous sclerosis in someone her daughter’s age was unusual because the condition is normally diagnosed at birth or in the first few years of life.

Kimber, a soon-to-be junior at Palmer High School, has been strong about the transition “from living a normal life to having to take medication daily, watching what she does, and learning that a lot of things that we were recently looking into and planning for her life, well, she may not be able to do,” her mom wrote.

“I love her so much. She is my strength.”

Q&A WITH KIMBER

Can you tell me a little about tuberous sclerosis?

“It causes tumors to grow in any organ in my body. … I have, I think, three. So I have one in my brain, one on my kidney. And the one on my heart shrinks,” whereas the other ones grow.How has your life changed since your diagnosis?

“It hasn’t really changed that much.” She has to take medicine “in the morning and night. And having to go to the doctors all the time sucks.”

Kimber said doctors are keeping an eye on her to see whether surgery will be needed to remove any of the tumors.What are your future plans?

“I want to be a vet.”Why?

“I just love animals.”What do you do to relax?

“I usually just read because I don’t watch TV much. And listen to my iPod.”What’s on your iPod?

“I don’t know. Just random stuff.”

Kimber turned 16 on July 1. Photo by COURTESY OF KIM RAYFORD