Mackenzie Thornton
A mother’s intuition should be trusted especially when the mother works at Shriners Hospital for Children. Fifteen-month-old Mackenzie was refusing to walk so her mother, Kate Makela of St. Louis, took her to Shriners where she works and soon Mackenzie was diagnosed with tibial torsion, a condition making her feet rotate inward.
Now this 5-year-old is giving back to the hospital that provided her with therapy and inserts which have improved her abilities. Mackenzie is one of the faces of Shriners Hospitals for Children and her photo is being used in local and national marketing campaigns. She also participates in hospital events, fundraisers, tours, photo shoots and acts as an advocate for others with orthopaedic conditions as well as an official hospital representative in accepting donations.
Mackenzie may have some grown-up duties with the hospital but the little girl in her really shines when she is dancing, swimming and playing with her friends.