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Taken about a year ago of Kennedy
and my granddaughter Courtney. |
It was an ordinary day. Talking on my iPhone to my granddaughter Courtney when she said her mom, sister and her were recently Facetiming with Donya and Kennedy when Kennedy began to sing ... Happy Birthday to ... Courtney interrupted and said to her, "I didn't know it was your birthday." Kennedy explained with, "It's my liver's birthday!" It was back on Sunday, December 28, 2014 that I posted my first story about a very unique little girl with the neat name of Kennedy. Often wondered where she got the name until one day her mom, Donya said it was her favorite President ... so. Well, a bit more background may be needed to understand my story and it goes like this: My youngest son Paul, who we all call Tad since his middle name is Thadeus, began playing ice hockey at an early age and found another of his classmates, Josh, was also into ice hockey. They eventually ended up on the same team and over the years have become best friends.
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Photo from years ago of Kennedy, father Nicholas
Stevenson, step-father Josh McCoy and Donya McCoy. |
It is through this connection that my wife Carol and I have had the chance to meet and become a part of Josh's step-daughter Kennedy's life. This beautiful child, daughter of Nicholas and Donya Stevenson was born with a rare disease known as S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase deficiency or AdoHcy. She was said to be one of only eight people in he world with the disease. The disorder affected Kennedy's brain development, muscles, nervous system and liver. Donya searched the world for a doctor that could help her daughter.
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The "HERO" Michael Thompson who donated a portion
of his liver so that Kennedy could live a normal life.
Don't you just love those red-framed glasses on Kennedy. |
It was through a doctor in nearby Strasburg, Pennsyl- vania, and a link in a world-wide email chain, that Dr. Kevin Strauss suggested she needed a new liver. From that diagnosis Donya, who had remarried Josh McCoy by now, made a most unusual "Plea Of A Lifetime" on Facebook. She asked for a living donor for her child. Her cry for help was answered when an old high school classmate, Michael Thompson, messaged her saying he had O positive blood and wanted to be Kennedy's living donor. The 3-year-old Kennedy soon received her life saving liver transplant.
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| Kennedy shortly after her operation 3 years ago. |
She came through the operation with flying colors with Donya saying, "She was awesome. She is just such a strong, amazing little person." Since that time Tad, Carol and I have become involved in her life by helping to babysit and inviting Kennedy and her family to join in some of our family events. It's been 3 years since she received her new liver and much has happened in those three years. Kennedy has been able to process protein, has grown in size and endurance, got one of the neatest pair of red glasses and she has become a living example that the living donor program really works. It is said that the third year after the transplant is a major timeline, and Kennedy has aced it.
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This photo of Kennedy and her half-sister Mia sits
proudly on our kitchen table. |
If you "Google" Kennedy Stevenson you will find information about JFK's assass- ination, Adlia Stevenson informa- tion, comparisons between Obama/ McCain, Kennedy/ Nixon or Eisen- hower/ Stevenson, but the #1 entry is: "Mom Posts "Plea Of A Lifetime" On Facebook, Gets Liver ... Wow, up against some tough competition, but Donya/Kennedy are a winning duo that can't be beat. Kennedy's and Donya's life has been full here of late. Donya has become a spokesperson for the University of Pittsburgh Living Donor Program while Kennedy has been busy with Television interviews and as a special guest of the minor-league ice hockey Hershey Bears. Here's hoping the next big yearly event will be as successful as the three-year event. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - The following is the "Plea of a lifetime" that Donya posted on her Facebook page over 3 years ago. Also, check out some of the videos I have been able to find telling the tale of Kennedy Stevenson.
Okay Friends...here it is...the request of a lifetime. Is there anyone out there who has O+ blood and would be willing to donate 25% of their liver to save Kennedy's life? Trust me, I know its a lot to ask, I can't even believe I'm posting this, but as a mother, I have to exhaust every option possible. Please PM me if you don't want to respond publicly. Thank you 
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| Photo of Supergirl Kennedy showing her scar from her surgery. This was taken by a former photography student of mine Renee Logan Heller. |
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| Photo of Supergirl and her Supermom. |
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| Living Donor information from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center featuring Donya, Kennedy and Josh. |
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| The super family: Mia, Donya and Josh McCoy with Kennedy Stevenson. |
Local link to a TV broadcast about Kennedy's 3rd anniversary of her liver transplant:
Another link to a TV broadcast in which Kennedy is the star at a Hershey Bears hockey game:
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