INDIANAPOLIS — Two moms connected by tragedy were celebrating a life saved Wednesday.
Christian Foley traveled all the way from Montana to share memories of her son Landon. He was just 3 years old when he was crushed by a dock by a lake.
"He was immediately taken to the closest ER in Helena, Montana, and then we were lifelined to Spokane, the children's hospital and right away they told us he wasn't going to survive," said Foley.
The medical team then had an ask.
"Did we want to do organ donation," said Foley. "And of course it was an uncomfortable for the doctors, but there was no question in my mind. I said yes immediately."
In Indianapolis, little Maddy Guzman was waiting. Born with a rare defect, she spent most of her childhood at Riley Hospital for Children.
"There were times when she was really, really sick and we thought she wasn't going to make it," said Maddy's mom, Itzel Maya.
Maddy needed a multivisceral transplant – a liver, stomach, pancreas and intestine implanted simultaneously.
"It's very complex, especially in a small child," said Dr. Richard Mangus, a transplant surgeon at IU Health.
Maddy's mom remembers getting the call in the middle of the night.
"They told us 'Yes, it's a perfect match and she is going to go into surgery in a few hours,'" Maya recalled.
Next month marks the eight-year anniversary of the transplant.
"Since, Maddelin has been doing so good," Maya said. "She's a happy little girl."
Now she can eat regular food, go to school and take dance classes.
"I feel thankful," Maddy said. "Very, very thankful that Christian gave me a second chance at life."
Several years in, the two families connected through a letter and social media and hoped for the day when they could meet in person. That happened in Indianapolis Wednesday.
"To see her, I just felt like, I can see, I don't know. I said, 'I got to hug Maddy and I got to hug my son," Foley said.
It's a deep connection between families, bonded together forever.
"Seeing her grow, it's the best gift they have ever given us," Maya said.