Heather Clark’s son, Lukas, died in 2013, when he was just 7 months old.
Clark donated her baby boy’s organs – including his heart, which went to Esther Gonzalez’s young daughter, Jordan Drake.
Years later, Heather Clark heard Lukas’ heartbeat again.
It was beating inside of now-4-year-old Jordan’s chest.
“That’s your baby,” Gonzalez said, as Clark held the stethoscope during Friday’s meeting.
“It’s so strong,” Heather responded.
After Clark’s son died in June 2013, his heart was donated to Jordan, who was 18 months old at the time, according to the Donor Network of Arizona.
When Jordan’s family learned of the organ donation, Esther Gonzalez spent the night crying, she said, because she knew the donor’s family had just lost a child.
“It’s a miracle that we connected and that Jordan is living happy and healthy with Lukas’ heart beating inside her,” Clark said in a statement released by the Donor Network of Arizona before the meeting. “I’m so in love with this little girl that I’ve never met. I can’t wait to wrap my arms around her.”
The encounter, which was captured on camera, marked the first time Jordan and Clark had met in person. Gonzalez and Clark had previously traded letters, connected on social media and talked on the telephone, according to a Donor Network news release.
“She’s just everything I imagined,” Clark said after hearing the heartbeat. “Running around.”
“She is so happy,” Gonzalez responded.
“You definitely have my kid’s heart,” said Clark. “Lukas never sat still.”