'Best gift ever': Mom hears daughter's donated heart in woman who received it
The mother of an organ donor got to hear her daughter's heart beat once again, when she met the woman who received it, and that rhythm is the basis of a new friendship that both say will live on.
"It was the best gift ever that anybody could ever receive, to be able to hear Morghan's heart beating so strongly, so proud and so full of love in somebody else," Cindy Krieger told CBC Calgary News at 6.
Watch two women from across the country express what a heart donation means to them, the recipient and the mother of the donor, in the video at the top of this story.
Her daughter, Morghan Krieger, died two years ago due to complications from Type 1 diabetes at the age of 19.
The Calgary family had a conversation about the importance of organ donation just before Morghan headed off to Acadia University in Wolfville, N.S., so she signed up.
Monique Pelletier of Timberlea, N.S., is alive today thanks to receiving Morghan's heart in January 2018.
But she didn't know who to thank. So about a year ago, Pelletier wrote a letter to the organ care centre in the hope it would pass the message along to the donor's family.
Cindy Krieger got the letter and connected with Pelletier for the first time at an emotional airport "reunion" Saturday in Halifax.
"I knew with the first hug that we would be connected forever. It was a beautiful moment," Pelletier said.
Cindy was overcome with emotion at that first interaction.
"It's beautiful to know that Morghan has gifted life to others, possibly up to 200 people. From the day Morghan passed, I told all our family and friends, we are going to meet that heart donor one day. Everybody said, 'It's not possible.' I kept believing in it and a dream came true. It makes us very, very proud to know that Morghan picked her," Cindy said.
She used a stethoscope to listen to her daughter's heart beating in Pelletier's chest.
Prior to the transplant, Pelletier's doctor had said her future was not looking good.
"My options were very limited at that point. I was at end-stage heart failure. I was very lucky she came into my life," Pelletier said.
"It gave me hope for a second life. It gave me the freedom to do the things I want to do. I am healthy and happy today and very grateful for it."
