Father Hears His Sons Heart For The First Time | The Compost Bin | Forums

In another man. I don't know if I could do that.

The parents of a college student who died earlier this year had an emotional meeting last week with a Vietnam vet who as able to live after receiving their dead son’s heart.

Matt Heisler was just 21 when he passed away in a house fire at the University of North Dakota in March.

Matt had signed up to be an organ donor when he was 16 and so his heart was able to save the life of Tom Meeks, who had been waiting three years for a transplant.

Meeks, from Washington state, had been diagnosed with a rare disease called amyloidosis in 2011.

Doctors said he wouldn't survive without a transplant. 

Due to his age, Meeks had already been rejected for a transplant by five hospitals before the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, carried out the successful transplant last month.

Then last week - some eight months after Matt’s death - his parents and younger sister, Casey, were able to meet Meeks and listen to Matt's heart beating in his chest.

It was an extremely emotional encounter for everyone involved. 

‘We're very proud of Matt,’ his father Jared Heisler told KARE 11.

Last week - some eight months after Matt’s death - his parents and younger sister, Casey, were able to meet Meeks and listen to Matt's heart beating in his chest

Due to his age, Meeks had already been rejected for a transplant by five hospitals before the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, carried out the successful transplant last month

Matt Heisler had signed up to be an organ donor when he was 16 and his heart was able to save the life of Tom Meeks, right. Matt's father Jared, left, said he is very proud of his son

‘Obviously, in my case, [the Heislers] are always going to carry a warm spot in my heart,’ said Meeks. 

Matt's organ donation helped more than 60 people including two women received Matt’s kidneys, while a 61-year-old man’s life was saved by Matt’s liver.

‘He made the decision that if life ever slipped away from him, he would give life to someone else,' said his father.

For more information about organ donation visit Life Source.

The Heisler family has also set up a scholarship in Matthew's honor at Provincial Bank.

P.O. Box 459 Lakeville, MN 55044

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2849809/The-tear-jerking-moment-family-gets-listen-21-year-old-son-s-heart-beating-chest-Vietnam-vet.html#ixzz3KNHDAT4M