This is the heart-touching story of a mom who tragically lost her 19-year-old son, Tristan. His mother, Becky, was extremely heartbroken after her only son’s passing. However, with the help of her family and supportive friends, she started living a normal life again.
In 2017, two years after Tristan’s death. Becky decided to marry for the second time after living alone for several years. She met an amazing man, Kelly Turney, and they got along so well that within a few months of their relationship, they decided to tie the knot.
The wedding ceremony took place in Alaska in a beautiful venue arranged by both Kelly and Becky, with mountains in the background.
On their wedding day, Kelly planned a surprise for her bride Becky, which she would never forget in her life.
The groom invited Jacob Kilby, a young man who got a heart transplant. Guess whose heart was given to him? Yes, Tristan’s.
Before his death, 19-year-old Tristan requested to donate his organs to people in need. So, five people received his organs, including Jacob, who was looking for a heart donor at that time.
Becky reserved an extra seat on their wedding day in memory of her late son. On his seat, there was a canvas with an emotional message written on it.
“I’m in heaven for your wedding, so what shall I do? I’ll come down to earth to spend it with you. So save me a seat, just one empty chair. You may not see me, but I will be there.”
Becky walked down the aisle with her dad, who handed her over to Kelly. According to Becky, Kelly gave her one happy look and then walked away.
“At that moment, I was really confused, like what was he doing. He was supposed to stand there, hold my hand and say his vows but he walked down the aisle and started greeting the guests instead,” Becky told the reporters.
After a few minutes, Kelly came back and asked Becky to come with him. She was still confused about the situation but walked with him nonetheless.
Kelly took Becky to the seat that was reserved for Tristan, Becky’s late son, and she saw someone sitting on that seat.
When Becky moved closer, she was stunned to see that the young man sitting on that chair was Jacob Kilby, the boy who received Tristan’s heart.
Jacob greeted Becky and showed him the stethoscope he had brought with him to make her listen to his heartbeat – Tristan’s heartbeat.
At this point, Becky broke down into tears and embraced Jacob. She was so happy and sad at the same time she couldn’t help sobbing.
Jacob, the recipient of Tristan’s heart, told Becky that Kelly invited him over to the wedding, and he flew all the way from San Diego to be a part of their big day.
Becky then got a chance to listen to her late son’s heartbeat through the stethoscope Jacob brought. She kept crying and hugged Jacob again.
The photographer who covered the wedding shared some beautiful and heartwarming images on Facebook and wrote that it was the most beautiful wedding present Jacob could ever give to Becky.