VIRGINIA BEACH -- As far as celebrations go, "anniversary" might not be one associated with most two-year-olds. Mackenzie Lemn is not your average two-year-old.
"It really kind of makes my heart swell, and, really, just brings me to tears a lot of times, just thinking of where we were and where she is now," says Mackenzie's mom, Sarah.
In January, 2009, Mackenzie's liver began failing inexplicably. Doctors at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters had her rushed to the Transplant Center for Children at Georgetown University Hospital. Her father, Mat, was to donate part of his liver to Mackenzie. Instead, doctors were operated using an organ donated by another child.
"Really helped us, and helped Mackenzie to save her life," Sarah tells 13News. "It's a very overwhelming experience."
"I think the hardest part is she looks so good and so healthy," says Mat Lemn, explaining, "You know, especially now with cold and flu season, we can't go out and do a play group. We can't go to a children's museum, you know. We can't do a lot of things that, you know, a lot of kids do during the winter."
Recently, Mackenzie's compromised immune system caused a few scares. Getting sick usually translates into a trip to the hospital.
"Most recently," Sarah says, "she was rejecting her new liver which they were able to control with medicines and reverse it."
Right now, the two-year-old's routine includes weekly lab work, and the trips to have it done are something she enjoys. Mackenzie takes several medications daily, which dad is in charge of giving her.
"One of her favorite phrases now is, you know, 'Don't cry. Brave girl,'" Mat says. "You know, the maturity that she's kind of taken everything with, you know, it's just really awe-inspiring for me as her father."
Going strong at two, having overcome more than most children, Mackenzie enjoys her role as big sister to 11-month-old Kennedy. Seeing the two play together overwhelms Mat and Sarah, considering how close to death their older daughter was little more than a year ago.
"Interesting to watch how it's changed her at such a young age," Sarah offers, "thinking about what would she have been if she hadn't had the transplant but I think, no matter what, she's perfect."
"One of her favorite phrases now is, you know, 'Don't cry. Brave girl,'" Mat says.
To celebrate the anniversary of the transplant (which was January 21), the Lemns are making a donation to the Transplant Center for Children at Georgetown University Hospital as part of a toy drive that's taking place.
