Couple surprised during wedding by man who received their 11-year-old son’s donated heart

A Texas couple got a happy wedding surprise when the man who received their son’s heart showed up at their nuptials so they could hear their boy’s heart beat once again.

Monica and Dean Berckenhoff, of Willis, Texas, were in a courtroom Friday, waiting for the judge to marry them, when their relatives introduced them to surprise wedding guest Travis Stufflebean, 28, of Fayetteville, Arkansas. 

It was the first time that the couple got to meet the man who had received their dead son’s heart and were able to hear it beating again in seven years.  

Travis Stufflebean (in green) surprised Texas couple Monica and Dean (in blue) Berckenhoff during their wedding, giving them the chance to listen to their son’s heart seven years after they donated it following the boy’s freak accident death in 2012

Stufflebean (pictured) was 20 years old when he received 11-year-old Colton's donated heart

Colton's parents decided to donate his heart and other internal organs for transplant patient use

Stufflebean (left) was 20 years old when he received Colton’s (right) heart. Stufflebean had been born half a heart that didn’t work and previously had five open heart surgeries

The Berckenhoffs’ 11-year-old son, Colton, had died in a freak accident in June 2012, after which the couple decided to donate his heart and other organs to be used in transplant patients, the Telegraph reported. 

The then 20-year-old Stufflebean, who was born with half a heart that didn’t work, was the lucky recipient of Colton’s heart. He had had five previous open heart surgeries. 

The Berckenhoffs told KTRK that they had always wanted to go to Arkansas to meet Stufflebean, but that the funds and timing hadn’t worked out.  

But, in December 2018, Monica’s sister, Amanda McDonald, and the siblings’ parents decided to it was finally time to make it happen. 

They secretly arranged for Stufflebean to travel to Willis to meet the Berckenhoffs, making a special day all the more memorable by giving the couple the chance to listen to Colton’s heart beat on the same day they were pronounced man and wife. 

Stufflebean (in green) is shown here walking into the courtroom in the middle of the Berckenhoff's wedding as Monica (in white) gasps with surprise to see him there

Stufflebean (in green) is shown here walking into the courtroom in the middle of the Berckenhoff’s wedding as Monica (in white) gasps with surprise to see him there

The couple hugged Stufflebean, who they met for the first time during the wedding. He entered the room carrying a stethoscope so they could listen to Colton's heart beating

The couple hugged Stufflebean, who they met for the first time during the wedding. He entered the room carrying a stethoscope so they could listen to Colton’s heart beating

Monica's sister Amanda McDonald (in flower dress) and their parents arranged the surprise, secretly arranging to bring Stufflebean (in green) from his Arkansas home to Texas

Monica’s sister Amanda McDonald (in flower dress) and their parents arranged the surprise, secretly arranging to bring Stufflebean (in green) from his Arkansas home to Texas 

Travis Stufflebean (in green) is pictured here with Monica and Dean, as well as their two children. Colton was the couple's oldest child

Travis Stufflebean (in green) is pictured here with Monica and Dean, as well as their two children. Colton was the couple’s oldest child 

Colton (in red) is pictured here with his sibling and mother Monica in an undated photo

Colton (in red) is pictured here with his sibling and mother Monica in an undated photo 

Colton was described as being 'full of life' and the 'sweetest kid that you ever met'

Had Colton (in red) survived the accident, he would've been 18 this year. He is pictured here with a sibling

Colton (at left and at right with a sibling) was described as being ‘full of life’ and the ‘sweetest kid that you ever met.’ Had he survived the accident, he would’ve been 18 this year

On Friday, dozens of the Berckenhoffs’ family members were in the courtroom for the wedding ceremony. 

Amanda interrupted the ceremony halfway through to bring out Stufflebean, who surprised the couple by walking into the room while carrying a stethoscope. 

Video of the heartwarming moment shows an emotional Monica and Dean tearfully embracing Stufflebean and using the stethoscope to listen to Colton’s heart beating for the first time since he died. 

Upon meeting the couple, Stufflebean said that ‘the heart is finally home.’  

‘It’s been seven years (since Colton passed) and it’s something we’ve always wanted,’ Monica told KTRK.  

Dean, meanwhile, told the Telegraph that meeting Stufflebean brought him ‘closure’ because he heard his son’s heart.

Stufflebean said that ‘To me, this is just a temporary heart. I’m just borrowing it. To me, this is where it belongs, with this wonderful and awesome family.’ 

McDonald described Colton as being ‘full of life’ and the ‘sweetest kid that you ever met.’ Had he survived the accident, he would’ve turned 18 this year. 

She added that when she looks at Stufflebean ‘its like I’m seeing Colton.’ 

Stufflebean said that after receiving Colton’s heart, he believed it was his responsibility to lead a righteous existence, part of which includes becoming an ordained minister soon.  

‘I think if he was looking down, I think he would approve everything that I have accomplished so far,’ Stufflebean told the newspaper. ‘He’s helped me a lot with it all.’

Monica encouraged people to become organ donors because ‘ there’s no telling who you could save,’ adding that ‘Colton’s a hero. He’s more of a hero than any person that I know. He saved more than just one life by us donating his organs.’

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk