Infant's Organ Donation Saves 3 Lives; Mother Hears Heartbeat In Transplant Recipient
After losing her infant son two-and-a-half years ago, Heather Clark was able to listen to his heartbeat again in the body of 4-year-old Jordan Drake.
At only seven-months-old, Clark’s son, Lukas Clark, died from fatal injuries under the supervision of his babysitter. The case still remains under police investigation, but, according to the Daily Bulletin, detectives believe the babysitter’s abusive boyfriend physically harmed Lukas when he wouldn’t stop crying.
As soon as Clark was forced to bear the burden of losing her first-born child, she immediately decided to donate his organs.
"There is another family out there,” Clark thought, “and I have the chance to make them not go through what I'm about to go through."
Lukas’ organs were used to the save the lives of three different children, including Jordan Drake, who spent years in the hospital for a congenital heart defect.
Esther Gonzalez, Jordan’s mother, told newser, "It's hard to describe … that [Clark] would be so selfless to be able to think of another family while she's going through her grief. We're family now. We're friends now. Our families are families. We've brought our families together."
Clark first reached out to Jordan’s family on Facebook, where she also posted her exciting news.
"I would like to share something with all the amazing Lukas supporters. Today I have been in contact with a beautiful family. This beauty (Jordan) is the girl who has Lukas' heart beating in her. One day I will meet her and squeeze her so tightly! Thank you to her mom and dad who allow me to be a part of their lives. This is the best Christmas present I could have asked for."
Last Friday, Clark finally met with Jordan and her family at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, where she put a stethoscope to Jordan’s chest and heard Lukas’s heart again for the first time.