Des Moines student Brittany Fugatt got to her high school prom five years late.

But there were compensations. Her date was film star Jack Black and the prom was in Southern California, instead of Mt. Rainier High School.

"The prom was lots of fun. There were tons of people there, the decorations were beautiful and it was very well done," exclaimed Fugatt, a kidney dialysis patient.

Black helped Brittany, her younger sister, Chelsea, who accompanied her, and about 250 young people forget about dialysis and renal disease and enjoy a fun evening at the 11th Annual Renal Teen Masquerade Prom, presented by the Renal Support Network.

Fugatt dialyzes three times a week, four hours a day at the Northwest Kidney Center in SeaTac.

Renal Support Northwest's Patient Focus, which has events for 14-24 year olds, sponsored Fugatt.

Francie Kay, Northwest Kidney Centers spokeswoman, explained that the network is a patient-run organization that offers services to help people with kidney disease.

"Because it is non-profit, it is very patient-focused," said Kay.

"It was a nice compensation for not going to my high school prom and a great opportunity," said Fugatt, who dressed up in a fancy purple prom dress, wore makeup and got her hair styled for the gala affair.

"It has a beaded halter," Fugatt said about her dress. "I tried it on and it felt great."

According to Fugatt, Black was "amazing."

He met with lots of people and then performed a cappella, singing "Kissed by an Angel."

"It was classic Jack Black," said Fugatt. "We met him briefly, got a photograph with him and an autograph."

Now 23, Fugatt missed her senior prom, just before her 18th birthday, due to hip replacement surgery; a complication from the chronic kidney disease she's suffered since early childhood.

After receiving a kidney transplant in 2002, with a kidney donated from her mother, massive doses of anti-rejection steroids destroyed her hip joints.

Unfortunately, Fugatt's transplanted kidney rejected and in February, 2008 she went back on dialysis at the SeaTac Center.

"I've been here for two years, since it opened," said Fugatt. "I love it here. There's a lot of one-on-one care. I know everyone I work with."

She explained that she doesn't run into many people her own age. However, at the SeaTac Center there are some people between 20-40 years old.

"It's not all 98 year olds," she said. "Renal disease doesn't just impact older people but younger people also."

Fugatt is on the deceased donor list and hopes someday to get another donated kidney.

"They don't last forever," she said.

Social worker Glenda Brown, from the SeaTac Center, initially mentioned to Fugatt that she would be a good candidate to be sent to the prom and nominated her.

"I saw the prom offered in the Renal Support Network Newsletter about six months ago," said Fugatt. "Since October I had a real idea that it might happen."

In addition to the prom opportunity, the Kidney Foundation gives eight scholarships per year. Fugatt was a recipient of one of the scholarships and was awarded $2,000 for school, which she is currently using at Highline Community College in Des Moines.

Fugatt takes classes at Highline in the mornings and has dialysis in the afternoon.

"These are great opportunities that I've been presented with," she emphasized.

Fugatt's long-term plan is to become a social worker specializing as a child life specialist.

She wants to get a BA in Social Welfare from the University of Washington in Tacoma with an emphasis in Human Services.

"I'm happy that I was nudged into doing it. I wouldn't have been able to go back [to school] so easily," she said. "I'm very appreciative of the Kidney Center for giving me such great opportunities."