Matt Heisler, 21 years old, died in a tragic house fire in the wee morning in one Sunday last March. He was a student at the University of North Dakota. Matt was always been a good kid, and true to his deed, he was an organ donor. Hence, his heart has helped another man live longer as it continuously beats on.
The family has been so keen in hearing the heart of Matt beat as it was transplanted to Tom Meeks, who lives in Washington D.C. According to his sister as she talked to NBC News, Casey, ""It's hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that the heart I grew up with and felt in all of my hugs when I hugged him - that it is still out there somewhere."
His parents, Jared and Cheryl Heisler, had been waiting to feel the heart of their son beat once again and give life to another who needs it.
Tom Meeks, who have been suffering from heart disease, has been refused by five hospitals for a needed heart transplant. He had many other health concerns that made it hard for him to have an organization help him. However, Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota has him a change of a lifetime. He was placed in a waiting list and luckily, he was given Matt's heart.
After eight months of Matt's death, finally, his family had the chance to see Meeks in person for the first time.
"Obviously in my case they are going to have a very warm spot in my heart. I woke up this morning and told Matt that mom and dad are coming today," Meeks said before the meeting.
During the meeting, they had the chance to hear Matt's heart through a stethoscope. They got to embrace the heart they love.
The death of Matt is tragic but he has helped as many as 60 people with his organs. A woman who is 46 years old received one of Matt's kidneys while the other was received by a 56-year old woman. Matt's liver saved the life of a 61-year old man.
"It is the smallest favor for what I have received," teary-eyed Meeks said as now he has more time to spend with his wife and grandchildren.
