Since she was 3 years old, Giselle Navarro knew she wanted to become a police officer.<\/p>\n
Now, the Venice High School senior, who turned 18 on Monday, is struggling to attend classes after being diagnosed with kidney failure in October. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been really hard for me, because I\u2019m the healthiest of my siblings,\u201d Navarro said. \u201cIt\u2019s really hard, but I push myself every time. I thank God that I\u2019m alive and not in the hospital bed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Navarro joined the Los Angeles Police Department\u2019s cadet program when she was 15. She quickly achieved the rank of lieutenant and impressed officers.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe stood out because she had officer presence,\u201d said LAPD Youth Service Officer Brianna Brown. \u201cShe wasn\u2019t meek, she wasn\u2019t timid (and) she was ready from day one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Navarro needs a donor who is 18 to 50 years old with type A positive blood.<\/p>\n
She isn\u2019t giving up on her goal of studying criminology at USC before becoming a K-9 officer with the LAPD.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will fight through it, but it is very hard,\u201d Navarro said.<\/p>\n
Brown said Navarro is a pillar within her community.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s just an amazing soul,\u201d Brown said. \u201cShe\u2019s always had a heart of gold. She puts herself last in every aspect. It\u2019s no different now, and I just feel like it\u2019s our time to give back to her.\u201d<\/p>\n