MMA fighter and partner welcome baby after toddler son killed in DUI

They also opened up about how they're choosing to honour little Liam.

An MMA fighter and his partner whose toddler son was killed by a drunk driver have told how he saved a number of people's lives through organ donation. Marcus Kowal and his partner Mishel Eder lost their 15-month-old son, Liam, in September 2016 when he was killed by a drunk driver in California. The couple, who welcomed their second child earlier this year, appeared on a recent episode of The Doctors to talk about their life after the heartbreaking tragedy. https://www.instagram.com/p/BbKplZGjRBo/?hl=en&taken-by=mackowal On little Nico, Mishel said:

“He’s been a blessing and he has really helped us on this healing journey.”

The athlete added:

“It’s important for him to know that he’s his own person and he never feels that he lives in the shadow of his brother, but he’s proud of his older brother and knows of his older brother.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba_lyGhDa6Q/?taken-by=mackowal The Swedish-born mixed martial arts fighter told how life for the family without Liam has been difficult, but they were able to find comfort in the fact that the toddler helped save lives through orang donation. The family also started Liam’s Life Foundation to raise awareness about the dangers of drunk driving. He explained:

“The reason why we chose Liam was it means ‘the people’s protector’. “When we named him — and this was not the way we had hoped for him to be a protector  — but he’s already saved lives directly by donating his organs but also just from the people that reached out to us around the world pledging to never drink and drive again. “His 15 months here on the planet has helped saved tons of lives.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKFpJgeBgOx/?taken-by=mackowal Liam was being taken for a walk in his stroller last year by his 15-year-old aunt when the pair were hit by a car while crossing the street. The 72-year-old driver pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter and was sentenced to six years in prison, according to the Los Angeles Times.