In this season of giving, Chelsea Phillips looked above to go beyond, with a gift to save a life.

As the lucky recipient, 5-year-old Kolby Martin, assembled a locomotive from brightly-colored oversized puzzle pieces, the 21-year-old Mississippi University for Women student, with excitement to match his, Thursday explained her decision to donate a kidney to her cousin.

“He”s always been like a little brother to me,” Phillips said of Martin, a tow-headed little bundle of energy whose enthusiasm for life triumphs daily over his illness. “The benefits to him are so extensive, it”s a joy to be able to do this. It wasn”t even a question. I immediately wanted to do it. I just felt like God let it all work out so well, I never even questioned it.”

The son of New Hope residents Lisa and Andy Martin, Kolby was born in March of 2004 with Prune Belly Syndrome, which is marked by a lack of abdominal and urinary tract muscles, and has had damaged kidneys since birth.

“We knew (about the syndrome) before he was born,” said Lisa Martin, noting the Martins had a son, Jon Tyler, in 1992, who was born with the disease and only lived for two months. “From day one, he”s been on medicine for his kidneys.”

At the age of 15 months, Kolby Martin, who currently only has 7- to 10-percent function in his kidneys, underwent surgery to repair his urinary tract and stomach damage.

But in the last year, “he”s really gone down,” and doctors warned Kolby would have to start dialysis or receive a transplant.

Phillips and her brother were among those tested as possible matches for kidney donors.

Her brother only matched three out of 10 criteria, but the Martins were stunned to learn Chelsea Phillips, who will graduate from MUW in May, was a “perfect match.”

Kolby”s transplant is scheduled for Dec. 17 at the Children”s Hospital at the University of Alabama, Birmingham.

He likely will be hospitalized for a week after the transplant surgery and the Martins will remain in Birmingham for four to five weeks following.

Chelsea likely will be cleared to return to school and work activities in about two weeks after the surgery.

With tears of gratitude, Lisa Martin expressed her appreciation of Phillips” gift.

“It”s everything to us,” she explained. “It”s allowing Kolby not to be on a machine everyday. All he”s ever known is medicine and doctors. There”s just no way we could ever thank her and repay what”s she”s doing for him.”

“He”ll have a lot better long-term outlook,” said Andy Martin, noting Kolby”s new kidney will be expected to last 20 to 25 years before he needs another transplant.

“We say we”re saving their kidneys for the next one,” Lisa Martin joked of Kolby”s older brothers, Kyle, 18, and Kale, 15, who were too young to be considered as donors.

“We just feel like the Lord has led us all to this point,” she continued. “For (Chelsea) to be a perfect match, to us, is a miracle. The doctors said it”s very rare for anybody but an identical twin to be a perfect match. I don”t think that happens by chance.”

“There is too much that”s gone right for it not to be (the Lord”s work),” Phillips said. “The lady called and said, ”Chelsea, you”re a perfect match.” And I just started crying.”

“We wish they didn”t have to go through this, but we just feel like the Lord has had total control,” Lisa Martin said. “It”s God. He deserves the glory and the praise, because he”s just taken care of everything.”

Kolby said he”s excited to get the new kidney and, to his mother”s surprise, said the first thing he wants to do when he recovers is to play football.

Because of his illness, he has been severely restricted in the type of food he”s been able to eat, but the transplant will open doors of opportunity, said his parents.

Asked what he most wanted to eat, he was delighted with the question.

“Cheese dip,” he whispered, his eyes as big as saucers.

“Every time we go to the Mexican restaurant, he wants cheese dip,” Lisa Martin explained. “But he can”t have much dairy.”

“What do you like to help your daddy make that you can”t have?” Lisa Martin asked her son.

“Salsa,” he answered immediately, before asking, “Who wants to make some pizza?” and running to his room to retrieve a pizza puzzle game.

“(We hope) Kolby”s story in any way could encourage people to become an organ donor,” Lisa Martin said. “Most people aren”t as fortunate and blessed enough to have this kind of match and they have to wait years and years. Mark your driver”s license (indicating a desire to be an organ donor). We want Kolby”s story to encourage others. That is our desire, to reach more people to be organ donors and give someone else the chance Chelsea has given Kolby.

“Now, he”ll be able to eat what he wants and they say he”ll have twice as much energy,” she added. “Chelsea is just a special person.”

“Hopefully it will inspire other people to donate, because it makes such a difference in him having a better life and I”m really glad I get to be a part of it,” Phillips, who is studying speech pathology, said.

To follow Kolby”s progress and receive updates on his transplant surgery, visit www.caringbridge.org and search under the patient name of “KolbyMartin.”

An account for donations to The Kolby Martin Benefit Fund has been set up at Citizens National Bank.

“We would be glad for anybody to keep up with Kolby and to say a prayer or two,” Lisa Martin said.