It’s an absolutely terrifying thought as a parent of losing a child. Tragically, Anna Lewis of North Carolina lost her son Greg Ricks in a horrible car accident.
His organs were donated, and Anna smiles when she hears her son’s heart beat lives on in the man that he could save.
Greg passed away in a car crash in 2016 as he went off the road and struck a heavy tree. The 31-year-old left behind three sons and was working for the Halifax Department of Transportation.
The family has had a history of donating organs for those who need it. Greg’s dad passed away a couple of years earlier due to a heart attack, and he expressed his wish to donate organs. Anna was asked if Greg’s organs would be donated, and she wanted her son to live on.
“When I was asked, my first reaction was no. I just felt weird about it. Then I immediately thought I can’t let my son just be dead. I couldn’t live with that. I knew Greg had a big, beautiful heart and I wanted to see it live on,” she said in an interview with TODAY.
Coincidentally, the man that Greg saved shares the same first name. Greg Robbins from Roanoke Rapids was in serious need of a heart transplant. The man suffered a heart attack a couple of months prior and underwent open-heart surgery. Unfortunately, his condition was severe. His heart was only operating at about a fourth of normal operation.
It was clear that Greg Robbins needed a transplant to save his life. The day that Anna’s son’s organs were released, Greg went into surgery to proceed with the heart transplant so he could finally live a life again without having to worry about his health.
Anna and Greg got in touch after the surgery, and Anna wanted to meet Greg and his family. She wrote a letter to Greg and told him all about her son, stating that he was a great day and could also be described as a country boy.
The two parties agreed that they would meet at the home of Anna’s son because Greg wanted to see how his donor lived.
“It was heart wrenching, heartbreaking and exciting,” Greg’s wife said. “We knew when my husband went on the transplant list that someone would have to give their life for him to live. It was bittersweet.”
When the two met, Anna was given a stethoscope so that she could actually hear her son’s heartbeat once again.
When she listens to Greg’s heart, she becomes very emotional but smiles with the comfort knowing that her son lives on. Anna bursts into tears and silently says “Thank you.”
The two families now keep in touch with each other and even plan trips together. A very touching moment!
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