One tiny heart might not seem like much, but it has connected two families forever.
Jordan Drake is thriving today, but just a short time ago, she was fighting for her life and in need of a heart transplant.
Around the same time, Lukas Clark, just months old, passed away. His organs were donated and Jordan was chosen as the recipient for his heart.
On Friday in Arizona, Jordan and her mother Esther met with little Lukas' mother, Heather, for the first time in Phoenix. Both families have been communicating through presents and drawings by Jordan, but had never met in person.
"I've run out of words at this point now," Esther said.
It was bittersweet for her to know that her daughter got a second chance, but at the price of another child's life.
Heather has Lukas' face tattooed on her arm, but she was looking forward to hearing her son's heart beating again--this time inside Jordan's chest.
Their first moments went as expected, with lots of tears, hugs and excitement from Jordan who wanted to meet Lukas' mom, even though she might not completely understand their connection yet.
What Heather didn't expect on Friday was a priceless gift from Jordan: a Build-a-Bear with a special recording inside. The recording was her heartbeat, which was also Lukas'.
"It's perfect," Heather told Jordan, who was busy trying to show her different outfits for the teddy bear.
The three of them shared time together, exchanged photos and listened to the heartbeat that brought them all together.
Donate Life Arizona says more than 122,000 people nationwide are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant, with more than 2,000 here in Arizona.
Last year, 433 lives were saved with organ donations from 158 Arizonans.
Donor Network of Arizona was humbled by its presence at the initial meeting of a OneLegacy donor mother and an Arizona...
Posted by Donate Life Arizona on Saturday, January 30, 2016
