A Pennsylvania woman who tragically lost her father a decade ago found a way to keep him a part of her wedding day — the man who received her father’s heart walked her down the aisle.
Jeni Stepien’s father Michael was murdered in 2006. When he passed, Arthur Thomas, who had been waiting for 16 years for a new heart, finally received the life-saving organ transplant.
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“I was on death’s door when he was murdered, and I needed a heart or I was going to be dying within the next few days,” said Thomas, speaking with CBS.
When the time came for Stepien to get married, she wrote a letter asking Thomas to take part. He travelled from New Jersey for the wedding, where he met Stepien for the first time before her ceremony.
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“Thank you so much for coming,” Stepien said to Thomas, in tears. She then felt Thomas’ pulse — her father’s heartbeat.
“I’m just so thankful that my dad could be with us here today in spirit and in a piece of his physical being as well, that was really, really special for us,” Stepien said.
After his fate was changed by the Stepien family’s loss, Thomas says he’s thrilled to be able to give back.
“I can’t imagine a greater honour,” said Thomas.