Whiz Kid: Dani Kimball

Every week we recognize a Whiz Kid in the community. If you know a kid who is doing great things, nominate them by emailing kellyd@patch.com.

NAME: Danielle (Dani) Kimball

AGE: 14

SCHOOL:

GREAT DEED: You'd like to think Dani Kimball is just an ordinary eighth grader. But, with a 4.0 GPA, one of the first-ever Integrity Awards presented at White Hill, a lead role in Guys and Dolls, and the student council presidency, she's an extraordinary eighth grader.

And, she did it all with two walking casts when school started in the fall.

Dani had to get extensive foot surgery at the end of last summer. Doctors broke her big toe bones, took out the top bones in the second two toes, and cut her Achilles on both feet. She started the school year with walking casts on both legs, but that didn't stop her from running for (and winning) school Student Council President.

"I didn't necessarily like it, but it wasn't something that got to me," said Dani. "I'm not just going to go around and moan about it."

That same attitude came in handy when Dani and her younger sister, Gabrielle, were visiting their grandmother three years ago on an island off of Washington. Her grandmother had a stroke and it was Dani's cool-headed thinking that helped make sure she had a full recovery. 

Instead of panicking, Dani said she knew that her grandmother was having a stroke because she had seen an episode of House where a character had a stroke. So, she knew that her grandmother wouldn't be able to talk and that they needed to call 9-1-1 immediately. Since the two kids were the only ones in the house, they cleaned out a head wound her grandmother had gotten when she fell and took care of her until the EMTs arrived. 

Dani was able to note the exact time of the stroke for the paramedics, so they could administer the right dose of drug and airlift her grandmother to the hospital. Her grandmother made a full recovery and had Dani to thank for it.

"The neurologist told us it was the most incredible recovery she had ever seen from such a massive stroke.  She credited Dani and Gabby for saving their grandmother's life," said her father, Andy.

KEY TO AWESOMENESS: "What makes Dani awsome is her unique combination of brains, heart, talent, caring, and cool thinking in a crisis," said Andy.

Dani puts it a different way. "I know I can do better," she said, whether it's on a test or in her mile time. Even as she was recovering from her double foot surgery, she wanted to push herself to get her best mile time. "I always try to achieve my best."

After graduation, which she'll celebrate with friends and family (and get to give a speech if she is selected after auditions), Dani is headed to next year. She just found out she'll be in the ROCK Academy, which means she'll get to continue to exercise her theatrical and singing talent.

"I'm super excited," she said.

But, her interests are just limited to the arts. Putting on all the Spirit Days, sack races, and hula hoop contests as White Hill Student Council President, also whetted her appetite for student leadership and she hopes to continue that at Drake. And, though she hasn't played softball since being on a neighborhood team, she thinks she might go out for the high school squad. 

And, of course, she'll keep getting straight A's, because she wouldn't expect anything less from herself.