When Jeni Stepien’s father Michael was tragically killed in 2006, the family decided to donate his organs to help eligible recipients such as Arthur Thomas, the man who received Michael’s heart. Thomas had been really close to death before the transplant, but almost exactly ten years later, Thomas walked Stepien down the aisle at her wedding to Paul Maenner. It all started with a letter she wrote to Thomas asking him if he would do the honors. After consulting with his own daughter, Thomas happily agreed as described to described to CBS Pittsburgh.
Jeni wrote me a letter and she said ‘Dear Tom, I’m the daughter of the man who’s heart is inside of you and I’m gonna get married on August 6th’…‘And one further thing if you’re willing, would you walk me down the aisle?’ …First person I’ll ever be walking down the aisle
ICYMI — yesterday, the recipient of a heart transplant walked the donor's daughter down the aisle at her wedding: https://t.co/c7zJZlEdmk
— KDKA (@CBSPittsburgh) August 7, 2016
