At age 16, Kodey Weir can add published artist to his list of accomplishments.

Kodey Weir, a 16-year-old Maple Valley resident, was chosen as a winner of the American Kidney Fund’s Calendar Art Contest.

The contest is a nationwide search for drawings to illustrate the organization’s 2010 wall calendar. Weir’s artwork, titled “Let’s Get Through This Together,” is published on the December page of the nationally distributed calendar. He is one of 13 contest winners, all of whom are children living with kidney disease.

“The American Kidney Fund is delighted to recognize Kodey’s beautiful artwork and it is our great pleasure to display his talent in the American Kidney Fund calendar,” LaVarne A. Burton said, president and CCEO of the American Kidney Fund.

The 2010 calendars are available on the American Kidney Fund Web site

Web site. All proceeds from the calendars will directly support the programs and services of the American Kidney Fund, including vital financial assistance to kidney patients who are in need and programs for children with kidney disease. Last year, the American Kidney Fund provided over $471,000 in treatment-related assistance to dialysis patients in the state, helping them to maintain health insurance coverage and pay for other treatment-related expenses.

In September, Weir, the other winners and their families attended an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., including a tour of the nation’s capital and an honorary awards dinner.

Weir is one of the 31 million Americans with kidney disease. According to the United States Renal Data System, about 2,200 children are living on dialysis and 5,300 are living with kidney transplants.

“Having kidney disease has made me grow as a person and has been life changing for better and for worse,” Weir said.

His father is his role model because “he is a hard worker, always around to talk to, and gives me more respect than I deserve,” Weir said.

Weir entered the contest after he learned about it from the staff at his local dialysis clinic.

“I wanted to be able to show the kids at the clinic my artwork in the calendar,” he said. Despite Weir’s challenges, he is hopeful about the future. He aspires to be a pediatric psychologist because he loves talking with kids. In his spare time he enjoys playing baseball, football, basketball, soccer, golf tennis, and spending time with friends and family. He has four dogs and four cats.