CHAPEL HILL -- UNC Health Care hosted a special reunion this weekend for patients who’ve received life-saving liver transplants.

There, they enjoyed entertainment like a performance by the USA Jump Rope champions – The Bouncing Bulldogs.

Transplant recipients and their families say the reunion is a way to celebrate life, and to remind others of the importance of being an organ donor.

"When your child is on the list waiting for an organ, it's tough because you know that a family somewhere is getting ready to lose their child,” said Renee Loftis, who has lost two of her children to a rare liver disorder. The twins died just days after birth, and before they could receive liver transplants.

Two years later, Loftis gave birth to Savannah, who also has the disorder. "Savannah is so full of life, she has a never give up attitude,” said Loftis of the daughter whose life was saved by an organ donor.

"To actually meet the family who donated their daughter's organs to save my daughter's life, it's huge,” she said. “Being able to thank them personally, and for them to be able to see what they had done, and to know that a part of their daughter was living was … huge, and I think it was for them too."

Savannah had to go through a second transplant two years after the first. The family continues to make countless trips from home in the Asheville area to Chapel Hill for Savannah, who is now 7-years old.