The next time it happens, it's entirely Mako's fault.
She traveled back to the South Pole to work with the best healers and get better.
Furthermore, despite any trouble she had caused, she also did a lot of good, too.
There's nothing more romantic than being all alone somewhere and spending time with your significant other.
She is smart and consistently has good grades in school.
She happily steps in to help the Avatar learn how to drive.