Kate Leekley was just 20 years old when she died after getting hit by a drunk driver in a motorcycle accident in 2013. But while sheโs gone, her heart is still beating.
Because Kate was an organ donor, part of her is living on in someone else. Alyssa Sandeen received Kateโs heart โ her second transplant in 15 years.
In the video below, Alyssa and Kateโs mom Jennifer meet for the first time after four years of planning.
Jennifer is nervous to meet the heart recipient, but once she sees Alyssa, she collapses into her arms and begins to sob. โThank you so much,โ Alyssa says. โItโs so nice to meet you.โ
Alyssa brings along a teddy bear with her to give to Jennifer and her family. But it isnโt just any plain bear. โPush the bear, thereโs something,โ Alyssa says.
When Jennifer presses the bearโs stomach, Kateโs heartbeat starts playing and the mom breaks down in tears. โThatโs your daughterโs heartbeat,โ Alyssa tells the mom. โYou can keep that with you, so you can hear it whenever you want.โ
โI donโt want to let it go. Just to hear her heartbeat โ I canโt explain it,โ Jennifer says through tears.
Please SHARE this post on Facebook if you love the way Alyssaโs memory lives on.
Photo credit: Little Things
