Mackenzie was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), a condition that causes the left ventricle to be severely underdeveloped. Her heart defect was first discovered during her mom’s 16-week ultrasound, and at first, her doctors were unsure if she’d survive. But Mackenzie was a fighter. Before she was even born, her heart developed two major arteries on the right side, which alleviated the failing left ventricle, ultimately protecting her aorta and avoiding serious surgery that most HLHS patients require. After birth, Mackenzie received specialized care at OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois, getting her first pacemaker at five months. At 15–months, she underwent open-heart surgery to reroute her circulation, allowing her heart to thrive with only one ventricle. Since the surgery went so well, she currently has no future surgeries planned. Mackenzie’s family is grateful for their attentive and helpful medical team and looks forward to their continued support through her childhood.