On her wedding day, Alaskan Becky Green, now Becky Turner, was missing her son very deeply. Along with her bouquet of flowers and rosary, she held two pictures of him. And there was a seat for him at their table.
Triston died unexpectedly in 2015 at the age of 19. A mother’s worst nightmare.
Unbeknownst to Becky, her husband-to-be Kelly Turner had been working behind the scenes for some time to make this day the most special he could for his bride. Said Kelly, “The family was absolutely devastated by the loss of their teenage boy. The only thing that truly comforted the family during this impossible time was knowing that he was an organ donor. Knowing that his organs went to people who truly needed them made them proud of their son.”
Kelly had kept in touch with the family of Jacob Kilby...the 20 year old young man who was close to death. He has hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Three heart surgeries before the age of two. His first transplant was at 2½. By his senior year in high school, his heart began deteriorating as his body started to reject his heart. He developed CAV, as his arteries around his heart started collapsing. And then he had a heart attack. After 45 days back on the donor waiting list, he received Triston’s healthy heart.
And it was a success. “I couldn’t have received a better heart,” Jacob said. “I’ve had zero complications. I'm back to exercise, back to school, back to surfing.”
Kelly flew Jacob up to Alaska from his San Diego home for the gift of a lifetime.
So, without further ado, meet the honorary groomsman….
The two families have gotten close.
Said Jacob,“ The experience is so unrealistic, so heart-warming and incredibly emotional.”
"But overall, it has been all love and two families joining together. Becky and I remain in touch and I am actually still in Alaska visiting here now. I now have a family here.”
And…..Triston’s other vital organs have saved Four. More. Lives!
"It's the most selfless act you can do for another person," Kelly said. "And we would encourage other families of donors and recipients to reach out."
Adds Jacob, “If you haven’t reached out to a donor, take that chance. Something really good could come out of it.’
If you have yet to make that choice…don’t hesitate.
Please consider being an organ donor.