Celebrating a Big Heart

 is only 9 years old, but she has already faced a health challenge that usually affects people much older than her. The Attleboro resident had successful heart surgery at age 7, and that experience motivated her to take part in a program that raises money for the American Heart Association and promotes awareness of health issues regarding the body's most important organ.

A party took place Saturday at the YMCA to celebrate Makenzie's health and the community for helping her raise $1,400 in the Jump Rope for Heart program. The party featured food, a station for kids to make cards for heart patients at Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence and lots of jump roping.

"She's the most selfless 9-year-old I've ever met," said Lindsay Pietro, youth director of the local American Heart Association, about Mackenzie.

Makenzie was born with patent ductus arteriosis, or PDA. It is a condition in which a hole that is located in the fetus' aorta does not close once the baby is born. Although many people live a full life with this condition, Makenzie's family was told her condition had become life-threatening and she would need surgery to close the hole.

Nearly a year after the surgery, Makenzie learned from her gym teacher at  about Jump for Heart. She told her mother she needed to participate.

"She said, 'Mommy, it's for people with sick hearts. I know how it feels; I want to help them,'" Cathy Killough said. "She wasn't going to take no for an answer."

Makenzie and her mother created a webpage to tell her story, and through that and other methods she collected donations based on how many times she could jump rope. She did as many as 110 jumps per minute, becoming the top fundraiser in New England and No. 23 in the nation.

"I know how it felt [to need heart surgery] and it did not feel good," Makenzie said. "I'm just trying to spread hope to kids that need it."

Her mother was thankful for the community support Makenzie received to raise the money and for those who came to the party.

"We are so happy to be part of such a supportive, loving and generous community," Cathy Killough said. "Now, we can spread that support to others."

Nearly two years after her surgery, Makenzie is an active girl—playing basketball, soccer and softball while also enjoying bike riding and, of course, jump roping. But she never forgets about the heart condition that affected her young life and is committed to helping others with similar problems.

"The jump rope program has two purposes, to raise money and raise hope," Pietro said. "Makenzie did both amazingly."