No advice on saving that one but they do grow quickly from seed so you still may be able to get one going before winter.
I have one growing out in the cornfield that’s about 3 feet high that I could dig up and Fedex to you but I doubt it would live (I’m in VT).
Have you talked to the parents of the neighbor brat that cut it down, or to the brat himself? The little twit should be made to apologize to your daughter.
LQ
Another thought - you might be able to salvage it if you stake it up and bind the broken part of the stem (if it’s not completely severed). You’ll have to water the living heck out of it and probably remove a lot of the lower leaves in order to keep it from dehydrating itself while it heals.
I saved an apple tree that was 3/4 girdled by mice by really babying it and not letting it bloom or try to make apples until the bark healed.
LQ
“The little twit should be made to apologize to your daughter.”
I’m trying as hard as possible to understand the innate curiosity of a small child (the ones that did this are probably in the 5-7 years old or possibly younger range). We are hoping the mother of the child and his friend will tell them they need to do just that.
At that point I worry how my daughter will react to that since she is only 2.5 years old (she may be angry, accept an apology and move on), who knows, but it would how a lot of character on their/their Mother’s part to provide the gesture. I would be sure to thank them and tell them that they were right to do it and that I appreciated the gesture.