Bride given away by man who received her dad’s heart

After being on life support for 24 hours, Jeni and her mother made a decision to take him off and donate his organs.

Arthur Thomas was given Michael Stepien’s heart in 2006 after he was murdered in Swissvale during a robbery, reports the Huffington Post.

Stepien said it was the best day of her life, and that it felt as if her father was right there with her.

Mashable has reached out to Jeni Stepien for comment and will update this story if she responds.

A United States bride who tragically lost her father when he was murdered 10 years ago managed to keep him a part of her wedding by having the man who received his heart walk her down the aisle. On Friday, Jeni Stepien finally met the man who was granted a new lease on life by her father’s tragic death.

“You can never imagine what that would be like unless you actually do it because so many emotions involved in what you’re doing”, Thomas said.

“The whole family is here now”, Jeni Stepien told the affiliate”.

But for Arthur Thomas, affectionately known as “Tom”, the Stepien’s decision would prove a life-saver.

“The last 10 years, I watched my children graduate from high school and college and I’m probably going to be able to see them get married”, he said. “It was what I needed”. “First person I’ll ever be walking down the aisle”, he told KDKA. “It was important for me to do this very small thing for her”.

“Prior to her wedding, she sent him a letter, which read: “‘Tom, I’m the daughter of the man whose heart’s inside you, and I’m going to get married on August 6th.