Winnipeg woman who posted inspirational messages as a teen now battling lengthy illness

A Winnipeg woman who inspired others as a young teen by posting messages of hope around the city is now looking for support of her own as she battles a lengthy illness.

Mackenzie Carter was just 13 when she and her sisterMikayla and their friend Marley St. Cyrposted inspirational messages on the streets of Winnipeg in 2013.

The messages were part of a movement called Team Inspire, which encourages youth to be positive and inspire others to do good deeds. Her story was published and broadcastby CBC.

Carter, now 20, suffered cardiac arrest in June of 2020 and was on life support for a week. She survived butspent118 days in hospital recovering.

"You can't ever explain 118 days in hospital, what that feels like, to lose that much time in your life. You don't think that will happenwhen you're 20," Carter said.

WATCH | In 2013, the group Team Inspireposted inspirational notes around Winnipeg:

Teens post inspirational notes around Winnipeg

11 years ago

Duration 1:49

A group of teens is posting inspirational notes across Winnipeg to bring smiles to strangers.

Her family hopesthe community will now payit back by sending Carter messages of support and love.

Carter recalls theday that changed her life.

"I was showering and I ended up collapsing in the shower," Carter said via Skype on Wednesday.

"My boyfriend heard me fall and came in, but I was already unconscious at the bottom of the tub. He gave me CPR and called 911," she said.

"I had probably about 90 minutes of resuscitation before I got to the hospital."

Infection attacked heart, stomach

Doctors told Carter aprevious viral infection had attacked her heart and her stomach.

She was diagnosed with gastroparesis, a stomach disease.She also has a carditis which affects her heart.

On top of that, she has suffered from bloodclots, anoxic brain injury andsepsis.

"I've had multiple surgeries. Inow have a defibrillator implantand a stomach tube," she said.

Carterwas released from St. Boniface Hospital two months ago, but is going back in for stomach surgery on Thursdayafternoon.

She is nervous about going to the hospital alone.

"I was fortunate when I was in the hospital [before] to at leasthave my family there, but withCOVID right now no."

Teens post inspirational notes around Winnipeg

Carter said she's also been struggling with her mental health.

"I'mhanging in there, I'm definitely thankful that I'm still here. I try not to be sad because I shouldn't be sad, and I'm still alive," Carter said.

"But it's very hard with COVID right now. You can't see anybody, there's no support groups, it's very lonely."

'She has a huge heart'

Adele Levreault, a close family friend,is calling on the community to send Carter cards and letters of inspiration.

"Because as a little girlshe cared for others when others needed her," saidLevreault

Levreault has already collected dozens of gifts from relatives and strangers, including cards made by children at a local daycare.

"She just has a huge heart, and it's truly about her fight now and how sick she's been, and just making sure that she knows she's not alone," Levreault said.

"We call her a warrior," said Mackenzie's mother, Nicole Carter, who feared her daughter was on the brink of losing her life.

"It's hard as a parent to sit there and see your kid [like that] and you can't take that away," she said.

"The fact that she has come back, there's no words,like for me it just confirms my faith in miracles and prayersand love."

Mackenzie, who was working as a hairstylist before she got sick, still cares a lot about her communityand alwaysputs others first, she said.

"She has this fierce inner strength, likedon't mess with her because the strength is there. She's determined and she willovercome things. She's amazing."

The family asks that cards for Mackenzie be sent to 477 Stalker Bay in Winnipeg.

She said she's grateful for the dozens of cards she's received from strangers so far.

"My parent's friends, their high school friends, people I used to work with, so many," she said.

"It really kind of brings a light to the end of the tunnel for me, and it shows me that people do care even if you don't know them."

WATCH | Teen who inspired others, now battling lengthy illness:

Teen who inspired others, now battling lengthy illness

4 years ago

Duration 2:25

Mackenzie Carter inspired others as a young teen by posting messages of hope around Winnipeg. She is now looking for support of her own as she battles a lengthy illness.