Woman Meets Mom Of Heart Donor Who Saved Her Life In Emotional First Meeting

A mom whose late daughter's organ donation helped save another woman's life couldn't hold back her tears when she met the recipient of her daughter's heart for the first time. In 2022, Sandra Diehl, 60, from Kansas City, Missouri, was told by her doctors she wouldn't make it to Christmas if a heart donor couldn’t be found in time. After organ donor Cori passed away, age 50, Sandra received Cori's heart, which meant she could continue her life, surrounded by friends and family. But over the months that followed, Sandra wanted to connect with her donor's family, to express how grateful she was to be given another chance at life. Sandra's transplant coordinator helped her send a letter to Cori's family, and Cori’s mom, Elaine, who is based in Masschussetts, wrote back, sharing pictures of Cori and her obituary. Following that initial contact, Sandra and Elaine remained in touch. Then, in August of this year, Elaine informed Sandra she was set to attend a donor's celebration in Madison, Wisconsin, where Cori was based, and she asked Sandra and her family to be their guests.

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