McKenzie Michelle Carey is 11 years old. She was born on April 20th, 2002 with a life threatening disease called Mitochondria. Despite her illness, the smile on her face, and the spirit in her eyes is simply infectious and shows that hope really does exist.

In this video, McKenzie is on stage with her father at the Summer PageantFest. From what I can find on-line, yes… it’s one of those kiddie “beauty pageants” that usually only the Pageant Moms dreaming of being the next Kris Jenner and the local pedophiles find to be anything less than sickening and disturbing, but this displays more courage and pride and self-awareness than you’ll see in the painted-up prima donnas you’ll see in “Toddlers and Tiaras” and those foul “scholarship competitions” their mama’s always drawl about.

This is what true love is like. This is what being a good father is like.