An Arkansas mother met the man who received her son’s heart two years after his passing.
Parker Fenton was just 18 years old when he died in October 2015. The teenager, from Farmington, was a registered organ donor and six of his organs were used to save four people’s lives, reported KFSM.
On Saturday, his mother, Andrea Patterson, was able to meet one of them and hear her son’s heartbeat for the first time in two years.
Andrea Patterson (right) met Kevin Eilrich (left), the man who received her son’s heart, for the first time on Saturday and was able to hear her son’s heartbeat for the first time in two years
Parker Fenton (left and right) was just 18 years old when he died in October 2015. The teenager from Farmington, Arkansas, was a registered organ donor and six of his organs were used to save four people’s lives
‘I feel like he was able to share his physical heart with someone who is also very compassionate, caring person, and I don’t think God could’ve picked a better match than the two of them,’ Patterson said (Pictured, Fenton)
Patterson said her son had a big and giving heart, figuratively and literally.
‘I feel like he was able to share his physical heart with someone who is also very compassionate, caring person, and I don’t think God could’ve picked a better match than the two of them,’ she said.
Kevin Eilrich, of Salina, Kansas, received Fenton’s heart.
‘I will never be able to live up to taking another man’s heart. I’m going to try my best but I’m only human,’ Eilrich said.
Eilrich (pictured), of Salina, Kansas, had cardiomyopathy, a hereditary disease of heart muscle, and been on heart medication for more than 20 years. Doctors told him the condition was worsening and that he needed a new heart
Patterson (pictured) and Eilrich emailed back and forth for months but he and his wife decided to drive from Kansas to finally meet Patterson in person and offer both their condolences and their gratitude
Eilrich had cardiomyopathy and been on heart medication for more than 20 years
Cardiomyopathy is an acquired or hereditary disease of heart muscle, this condition makes it hard for the heart to deliver blood to the body, and can lead to heart failure.
For Eilrich, the condition was worsening and he was told he needed a new heart.
‘We hate to have someone, in order to receive a heart, someone has to tragically lose their life,’ he said.
Patterson and Eilrich emailed back and forth for months but he and his wife decided to drive from Kansas to finally meet Patterson in person and offer both their condolences and their gratitude.
Both Patterson and Eilrich hope their story brings awareness to the importance of organ donation and they encourage everyone to register as an organ donor, like Fenton (left and right) was, if they aren’t already
‘It means a lot because just knowing Parker, and knowing his personality, he wasn’t selfish and so if he could help someone else, I know he’s smiling about that,’ Patterson (center) said
‘It means a lot because just knowing Parker, and knowing his personality, he wasn’t selfish and so if he could help someone else, I know he’s smiling about that,’ Patterson said.
Both Patterson and Eilrich hope their story brings awareness to the importance of organ donation. They encourage everyone to register as an organ donor if they aren’t already.
Eilrich said he is doing better than he ever has been because he finally has a healthy heart.