COAL GROVE — The Coal Grove fourth-grader who was the recipient of a kidney transplant returned home May 6 and is “doing great,” her mother said.

Peyton Black, 10, a student at Dawson-Bryant Elementary School, had been on a waiting list for a kidney until her second cousin, Scott Black, was found in recent months to be a match.

Peyton was born with V.A.T.E.R Syndrome, a rare gene defect that affects specific parts of the body including the kidneys. The 13-hour surgery was performed April 28 at Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital.

“Everything is going very well,” Peyton’s mother, Kim Dement, said. “She is very glad to be home.”

Dement said Peyton was very glad to see her brother and has been active since returning home. To avoid possible airborne infections, Peyton is currently wearing a surgical mask.

Scott, 28, returned home May 5 experiencing only slight discomfort in his back, Dement said.

Born with only one kidney, Peyton has been able to be kept stable since 2002 when she went into renal failure. She had been traveling to Cincinnati with her grandparents every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for dialysis treatments.

Those expenses, along with last month’s transplant and upcoming rehabilitation costs, have rallied dozens throughout the Dawson-Bryant school district and community to come to Peyton’s support to alleviate the financial burden associated with the surgery.

Initiated by the students and faculty at Deering Elementary, “Pennies for Peyton” has raised more than $2,600 for her medical costs.

On May 12, students will be holding an 11:30 a.m. welcome back party for Peyton at Dawson-Bryant High School. It will allow Peyton to reconnect with her classmates for the first time since the surgery.

Because of the surgery, Peyton finished and tested out of the school year early.