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Toddler Who Underwent Rare Surgery Continues To Improve

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A toddler who underwent liver surgery one month ago continues to get better.

Last month KDKA introduced you to three-year-old Kennedy Stevenson and her mother's high school classmate, Michael Thompson.

One day later, he donated a portion of his liver to keep the little girl alive.

Now, Kennedy has just begun eating solid food again. Donya McCoy says her daughter's surgery for a rare metabolic condition was a leap of faith.

"She's one of eight in the world, one of six living," Donya says. "And for her to be the first to have a transplant in the hope of curing this disease, and finding out that it did, in fact, cure this disease - it's overwhelming the special purpose she's been given."

Thousands of miles from Kennedy's Lancaster County home, Japanese television picked up our KDKA video, and told her story.

Parents of a little girl in Japan were equally baffled by their own daughter's condition, until they saw that video.

Now, that little girl is about to have the same surgery as Kennedy.

Transplant surgeon Kyle Soltys says the surgery will change her life.

"The damage that can occur over a long period of time, with her eating small amounts of protein, will be stopped by having a liver in there that is being functional."

Re-learning how to walk is part of getting better. But Kennedy thinks it's a lot more fun to have Mommy carry her to bed.

"I love you," Donya says, as she tucks her daughter in.

Soon Kennedy is asleep, under the warm covers in her bed at Children's Hospital.

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