Kajal Dinesh Patel

Kajal Dinesh Patel, 13, of Athens, GA, passed away on Monday, February
25, 2013 at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta after losing her long
battle with an auto immune disorder. She was surrounded by her family
and embraced with the love of her entire community. Kajal is best
known as the sixth grade student who inspired her classmates to
defy all odds to
find her 1 in 20,000 bone marrow match. Kajal was born on May 14,
1999, in Athens, GA to Tina and Dinesh Patel.

Kajal loved her family and friends and is most remembered for her big
smile and friendly spirit. She was an excellent student and a friend
to all. Kajal especially loved her dog, Arjun, and affectionately
referred to her four legged friend as "little brother". Kajal is
fondly remembered as a natural leader by her family and fellow
classmates and whose petite stature never compromised her giant
spirit. Kajal's uncle Raj, described his niece as ,"having a small
life but a huge purpose," --a comment echoed among fellow classmates
and teachers at the school she adored, Athens Academy.

Kajal is survived by her mother, Tina Patel and father Dinesh Patel;
brother Anshul; grandmothers Pushpaben and Kusum; grandpa Kalidas and
grandfather Bhikhalal; uncles and aunts, Dipak and Alpa, Raj and Daxa,
Manishmama, Ankitmama and Ameemasi; cousins Avi, Ansh, Anjali, Om,
Aashiq, and Aaron; and her dog Arjun.

The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to Children's
Healthcare of Atlanta for the outstanding care Kajal received and to
the Athens, Georgia community for all they have done to make Kajal's bone
marrow transplant a reality. Kajal's Uncle Dipak proudly exclaims
"Athens Academy may hold the Guinness World Record for bone marrow
swabs collected in 24 hours, but the Patel family holds the record for
the biggest family in Athens thanks to the outpouring of support for
Kajal."

In lieu of flowers, the family has established a fund in Kajal's honor
to promote Service and Leadership among students.
Contributions may be made to "Be a Hero for Kajal" at Athens First
Bank & Trust or mailed to "Be a Hero for Kajal"; P.O. Box 647;
Watkinsville, GA, 30677.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, February 28 at Lord & Stephens
Funeral Home; 4355 Lexington Road in Athens, GA. from 12 p.m.-3 p.m..

A Community-wide Celebration Service will be held on Sunday, March 3rd
at 2 p.m. on the Athens Academy campus. Attire is casual. Please plan to wear red or your "Be a Hero for Kajal" t-shirt. Super Hero capes are optional.

Lord and Stephens EAST is in charge of arrangements.