Some people have just the right knack for giving the perfect gift. The gift in this story was both unusual and special, and it brought a lot of comfort to the person who received it.
Dakota was just 16 years old when he was tragically killed in a car accident. Because he was young and healthy, the family made the decision to donate his organs. As a result of this, a blind man was able to see, and two other lives were saved.
Two of the donor recipients reached out to thank the family right away. But they did not hear from the third recipient until a little over a year later. There was actually a very good reason for this. One day, Dakota’s father John received a package in the mail. Upon opening it, he found a large teddy bear with a note included. The note was from Robert O’Connor, the man who had received Dakota’s heart.
A Very Special Thank-You
Robert said that he would have preferred to give them his gift in person, but he didn’t know when that would happen, so he was mailing it to them. At his one-year check-up, he had made a recording of his EKG readout of Dakota’s heart beating in his chest. Then he had had it inserted inside a Build-A-Bear teddy bear. The big, furry teddy bear was wearing a T-shirt that said, “Best Dad Ever.” What a thoughtful, meaningful gift to send! Just the sight of the bear brought back a flood of memories to John of spending hours at his son’s bedside in the hospital.
John’s wife Stephanie recorded him opening the box and reading the kind note. As John held the teddy bear up to his ear to listen to his son’s heartbeat, he was so overcome with emotion that he quickly motioned to his wife to stop the video.
John’s grateful reaction was really touching. “When I got the bear, my heart was filled with joy. I did not expect any of this,” said John. “I never left Dakota’s side. At night I would lay my head on his chest for hours at a time, every night, listening to his heartbeat. Now, thanks to Bob, I can listen to his heartbeat again!”
John is glad that Stephanie’s video has gone viral. The family wants to encourage other people to become organ donors themselves. “To give the gift of life is to continue God’s plan for both the donor families and the recipient,” John said. He wants to promote awareness of organ donations to show that it helps the donor families with healing and closure to know that their love lives on. Just knowing that Dakota helped save other people’s lives eases the pain of losing his son.
An Even Bigger Gift
Dakota had no idea that his life would be taken at such a young age and that through his death three other people would receive blessing and health. But the Bible tells us of One who chose to give His life for us that we might live. “But I have life now and am living just fine!” many people say. But that is where they are quite mistaken. Unless we have life in Him (Jesus), the Bible describes us as being “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:11And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; (Ephesians 2:1)). Dakota’s death gave physical life to others, but the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross for our sins gives eternal life to those who believe on Him.
Dakota’s death could only temporarily preserve a few lives, but the death of Jesus on the cross for our sins gives eternal life to all those who receive it through faith in Him. It is God’s gift to all those who accept it. “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-98For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8‑9)). The love of God reaches out to all men and is free! “God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a ransom for all” (1 Timothy 2:3-63For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (1 Timothy 2:3‑6)).
John was looking forward to the pleasure of meeting Robert, because, he said, “we are blood now! We are family!” This was all true because Robert had received the gift of Dakota’s heart. When we repent toward God for our sins and put our faith and trust in His Son Jesus for forgiveness of our sins, we also have great joy. Jesus describes it this way: “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:1414But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14)). Not only do we have joy in our hearts, along with eternal life, but God tells us that we are born into His family and become His sons! “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:1212But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)).
Do you know for certain that you have forgiveness of sins and are born into the family of God? You can have certainty today through faith in what God says in His Word about Jesus dying on the shameful cross for your sins!
You already know that heart issues are vital. But Heart Issues deals with far more than the medical procedures it talks about.