The "The Curing Of Kennedy" Story

Kennedy with her mother Donya.  This was taken
 last year before her surgery.

It was an ordinary day.  Hoping you will remember my story back on December 28, 2014 when I wrote about the beautiful little 3-year-old girl with the neat name of Kennedy who was one of eight people in the WORLD with the rare metabolic disorder known as S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase deficiency, or AdoHcy.  Kennedy is the daughter of Donya and step-daughter of Josh, one of my son's best friends.  The disorder she has affects her brain development, muscles, nervous system and liver.  Her diet was very limited which caused her to be underweight.  She needed orthotics in order to walk and her speech was limited to a few words.  Her pain was constant.  Donya was a crusader for her young daughter and finally found specialists who believed they may be able to help her if they could find someone who would be willing to donate part of their liver to Kennedy.  Donya posted her daughter's story on her Facebook page and before long found a donor in Bethlehemn, PA.  Mike, a city firefighter, just happened to be the same blood type and was also a high school classmate of Donya at Bethlehem Catholic High School.  The operation took place the beginning of this year in Pittsburgh.  

Kennedy sitting on my deck eating a cookie.

A few setbacks occurred because of organ rejection circum- stances, but all finally went well.  Today this little ball of fire is running around my back deck, climbing up and down the stairs.  Carol and I may get a chance in the near future to babysit for Kennedy when her mother makes a visit nearby.  Donya thought she should stop to introduce herself, as well as Kennedy, so we could see how well Kennedy is progressing.  I must admit that this soon-to-be 4-year-old wore me out playing ball on our driveway.  

Donya helps Kennedy on our steps.

She is gaining weight and is beginning to speak more.  She still needs to take large doses of medicine orally in order to help with organ rejection, but she took her doses without any complaints while visiting with us.  She is the cutest little girl who will now have a chance to live life the way she should.  She noticed a bandaid on my finger and pointed to it and said, "Booboo."  Then she showed me the scar on her stomach and chest that runs back and forth a few times from her stomach to her neck.  Hopefully this will be her only reminder of what she had to go through as a child.  While talking with Donya she told me that Kennedy's doctor is going to publish a story in a medical journal soon that tells of the success that Kennedy has experienced.  Donya said, "He said she is cured!"  Maybe soon I will be throwing the ball again with one of the miracles of modern medicine.  The family deserves all that can be given to them after going through the toughest battle of their lives.  Oh yeah, Donya got the name for her daughter from President Kennedy who was a favorite.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.