McKenzie was born January 20, 2016 – almost three months early. She was 1 pound 11 ounces and spent 97 days in the NICU before finally going home. She, and her parents Ashley and Ryan, have been fighting every day since her birth for her to thrive. McKenzie has had a feeding tube her whole life as she hasn’t been able to eat well enough on her own to get all the nutrients she needs. Her early birth also set her up for numerous developmental challenges, putting her three months behind her peers, and she still remains a “peanut” looking more like a 9-month-old at 16 pounds than an 18-month-old.
Despite these challenges, McKenzie, Ashley and Ryan have taken everything in stride, rising to meet every challenge and overcome it. Then in March 2017, McKenzie’s bubbly, energetic personality started to change. They saw her doctors and they quickly had a diagnosis – liver cancer. A 11 cm hepatoblastoma to be exact. A “one in one million” cancer that affects premature babies more than the general population.
McKenzie started chemo May 2017 and traveled to Tennessee in mid-August 2017 for a consultation and surgery with a doctor who specializes in pediatric hepatoblastoma at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.
McKenzie has continued to overcome all obstacles and is enjoying life to the fullest now as a healthy 2 year old.
Hope session by Jennifer Inigo Photography | Facebook | Instagram
Such a brave, sweet, beautiful girl! <3