Every day Blenheim schoolgirl Summer Wilson was in Auckland recovering from her liver transplant her teacher read out her name on the school roll.
Every day her Rapaura School classmates answered for her.
On the last day before Summer, seven, returned to Blenheim, her teacher called Ronald McDonald house in Auckland and
Summer answered her own name.
With a new liver and full of renewed spark, Summer has bounced back with a vengeance.
"They say they transplanted in a bit of confidence," mum Toni said. "It's a huge change. She's like she was when she was four."
Summer had a liver disease which made a transplant inevitable. When her health began to deteriorate more than three years ago the Marlborough community raised more than $100,000 to send her to Brisbane for the operation.
However, she managed to recover and remain healthy until a transplant clinic opened up in Auckland.
When her health deteriorated again last year, the family decided to move north to wait for a transplant.
Just days before they were due to leave, an organ became available and Summer was whisked off the plane and into theatre.
Summer's recovery was so good that she was able to come home early for Christmas.
"They said she was the easiest they have had go through. It was only two-and-a-half months from the date of transplant to coming home," dad Brendon explained.
Her parents agreed Summer's recovery was the best Christmas present they could have hoped for.
While she still has to take anti-rejection drugs and must be careful not to get sick, she can now concentrate on being a normal child - jumping on the trampoline, having water fights with sister Mersadez, showing off her scar to friends and generally causing mischief.
