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Yukon tyke 'typical' 2-year-old after life-saving liver transplant

Emmett Smith had a liver transplant at six months old after he was born with a rare form of liver cancer. His father donated part of his liver for the operation in May 2015.

Emmett Smith was born with rare form of liver cancer requiring a transplant when he was 6 months old

Charlotte Francis and son Emmett Smith in August 2017. It was two years ago this month that Emmett was released from hospital after a life-saving liver transplant. (Steve Hossack/CBC)

Emmett Smith's family is celebrating the second anniversary of his releasefrom Edmonton's Stollery Children's Hospital after a life-saving liver transplant.

The child from Carcross, Yukon,was born with a rare form of liver cancer. His father, Mike Smith, donated part of his own liver for the transplant in May 2015.

Emmett Smith's parents say they're happy they no longer have to live their lives day-to-day worrying about his health. (Steve Hossack/CBC)

The first weeks after the surgery were not easy for Emmettor the family, said his mother Charlotte Francis, because he was constantly sick.

"The good thing, he was always smiling,him and I were always smiling, he was always happy, he would always just love all the nurses, everybody just loved him," said Francis.

Now, the family no longer has to live their lives day-to-day worrying about Emmett'shealth.

"He's your typical, average two year old, like just gets into things, non-stop eating, he's doing really well," she said.

Emmett always busy these days, says his parents. (Steve Hossack/CBC)

Smith is a stay-at-home dad with Emmett.

"You really can't say how the day's going to be, it's just how he makes it," said Smith.

"He's busy all day, he's usually getting into something," he said.

Emmett's dad, Mike Smith, donated part of his liver for the transplant. (Steve Hossack/CBC)

Smith said Emmett was on a feeding tube for a period, but one day his son pulled it out on his own andhas been eating regularly ever since.

Francis said he will take anti-rejection medication for the rest of his life, but now he's a regular kid, playingoutside and loves to swim.

"We try to make it all normal for him."

A photo posted on Facebook in May 2015, by Charlotte Francis at the time of Emmett's transplant. (Charlotte Francis)

With files from Jamie McKenzie