Source: Yahoo

I came across a story today that really touched my heart because it reminded me just how insane this world can be.  One moment you could be alive and kicking, the next you could be dead and only a memory to those you leave behind.  The story I read was about 21-year old Kristina Chesterman, a nursing student at Chico State University.  She was hit by a drunk driver while riding her bike home and she sadly died a few days later.  Kristina’s organs were donated and she was able to save a very special life.  Her heart went to 64-year old retired nurse, Susan Vieira.

After six months of not knowing where her heart came from, she read a news article where Kristina’s mother openly said she wanted to meet the person who received her daughter’s heart.  The interesting part?  Kristina’s mom had found a bucket list that her daughter was keeping.  She gave the bucket list to Susan and oddly enough, many of the things had already been accomplished.  Susan says, “She read my Kristina’s bucket list…It was as if I was getting a CV of my life.  There were so many points that I had already on that bucket list.  It was uncanny.”

Susan has decided to mark off the rest of Kristina’s bucket list and says, “I’d like to think all the things I continue to accomplish in my life, I’m taking Kristina with me…Together we will finish her bucket list.”

Another touching gift that she is able to give back is to hug Kristina’s mother so that she can again feel her daughter’s heart beat.  If only we could all have someone to fulfill our dreams once we are long gone.  What a touching story!

***Quotes were gathered from Yahoo!