The grief of separation is inescapable and losing a child is the worst thing that can happen to a family. A touching video is going viral on internet that shows a father listening to the heart beat of his dead daughter.
Dylan and Katelyn Zimmerman were riding their bikes earlier this year when they were hit by a drunk driver. Katelyn was killed instantly. Her younger brother Dylan underwent four surgeries for his critical injuries but tragically didn’t survive. At the time their parents made the difficult decision to donate their organs, so other parents wouldn’t have to go through the grief of losing a child. Recently, the children’s father Shawn Zimmerman met with the recipient of his daughter’s heart, in what was an incredibly emotional exchange.
Katelyn’s heart was gifted to Ali Jefferies, who was in a near-death state in hospital when he received the heart transplant, which was successful, the day after Katelyn’s death. Having been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy when he was younger, a transplant was his only hope of survival. The special moment had been saved for the Zimmermans, with Ali’s mother refusing to listen to the beating heart until the donor family had done so first.
In a heart touching letter to Zimmermans, Ali thank them for everything they have done for the family despite facing such a terrible tragedy.
Completely breaking down in tears as he read aloud, Ali said: ‘Thank you for the gift of being able to see more in life. Thank you for letting me have a second chance. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for being my miracle.’
Listening to Katelyn’s heart still beating has also helped to ease Shawn’s mind. He said: ‘It put us at peace knowing that Katelyn’s heart is still beating even though it’s not in her.’
Here's another video where a sister meets transplant patient who has her brother's face... (keep some tissues handy)
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