A Texas father left heartbroken in October 2018 after his 21-year-old son, Matthew Spahn, was hit by a car on a dark road in Brenham and died 10 days later from his wounds, CBS affiliate KHOU reported.
“He was just walking home,” Jordan Spahn, of Houston told KHOU. “It was just a very tragic accident.”
After a few months, his family faced a similar misfortune as Jordan’s 25-year-old son Jonah Spahn was killed after being hit by a car on a Bellville highway in February 2019, local radio station KWHI reported.
At the time of Matthew’s death, he was registered as an organ donor, KHOU reported. According to the outlet, after Matthew’s demise, his donated organs saved five people’s lives.
His father Jordan came in contact with one of those lucky people. Jordan’s fiancée Summer Mossbarger posted on Facebook, saying she and Jordan met with Kristi Russ, a “very special lady” who received Matthew’s heart.
“I’m not sure how many know that Matthew Spahn was an organ donor and he was able to save 5 lives with 7 organs and countless others with skin and tissue,” Summer wrote in the post. “Kristi Richard Russ was the recipient of Matthew’s heart and she is such a sweet, grateful woman that is truly so thankful for the gift of life Matthew gave.”
She also shared an emotional video which shows Jordan listening to his late son’s heartbeat for the very first time since his tragic death.
“It’s so strong,” he told Russ in the clip, which was also posted on YouTube, as he held up a stethoscope to her chest.
Speaking to KHOU about their meeting, Jordan said: “It’s almost like getting to see Matthew again. I know his heart continues to beat.”
“You’ve got your ups and downs. You’ve got your questions. You wonder about the timing,” Jordan told the outlet. “When it was all said and done with, we figured out exactly why things happen the way they do.”
“You’re very thankful because you know without it, I would have never survived. I was on borrowed time,” Russ explained to KHOU. “He still lives on. It’s his heart that’s just in my body. Anytime they want to hear him, I’m a text away.”
“Not only was [Matthew] a gift to loved ones, he was a gift to strangers… A hero to all,” Mossbarger wrote in a description of her YouTube video, adding on Facebook, “If you aren’t an organ donor I ask that you consider the gift of life.”
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