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Hartford's Ava Schaefer Selected As A Nominee For The National High School Spirit of Sport Award

By NB, 04/05/19, 2:00PM CDT

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Shaefer and her older sister, Alaina, suffer from Primary Hyperoxaluria, Type 1 (PH1), a rare liver disorder. The condition causes a buildup of excess oxalate that produces kidney stones requiring occasional medical attention.

A diagnosis in April, 2017, revealed Schaefer’s kidneys were failing and dialysis was required six times a week. Just prior to Labor Day, she received organ transplants and was discharged a week later. After a month of grueling recovery, she returned home and was able to return to school on a part-time basis later in the fall. She attended school on a full-time basis in January, 2018, and was named Prom Queen in the spring.

She returned to the Orioles’ girls tennis program last fall and advanced with her doubles partner to the State Individual Tournament.