Wedding-day miracle as bride meets man who received her father’s donated heart
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Even after a devastating loss, the “God Eye” can emerge in ways no human could have planned.
A Godwink, a term coined by authors SQuire Rushnell and Louise DuArt, is a sign of hope that often comes at a divinely aligned moment and is meaningful enough to change people forever.
The duo shared the following story with Fox News Digital, just in time for Father’s Day this year.
Ten years after losing her father in a senseless tragedy, bride Jeni Stepien walked towards her future husband, Paul Maenner, on the arm of the only man who could testify that her father’s heart was still beating.
PRE-MARRIAGE STATEMENT? NO CO-LIVING? DATA SAYS COUPLES THAT SKIP BOTH CAN HAVE STRONGER UNIONS
There was hardly a dry eye at the church in Pittsburgh that day as guests stood.
Arthur Tom Thomas, the recipient of Michael Stepien’s donated heart, gently escorted the new bride, the organ donor’s daughter, down the aisle.
The man who receives the donated heart from the bride’s deceased father escorts the bride down the aisle on her wedding day. (Jeni Stepien Maenner)
Just moments ago, when the two met face to face for the first time, the old man leaned down and whispered something she would never forget.
“If you want,” she said softly, “when I hand you over, you can put your hand on my chest and feel your father’s heartbeat.”
It was like time had stopped.
MIRACLE KIDNEY DONATION SAVES TWO LIVES, PASTOR AND STRANGER CONNECT WITH BIBLE SONG
The girl who thought she had lost her father forever would suddenly become attached to him not only emotionally but also physically at her wedding.
After a few seconds, she felt under her hand the heartbeat that had once comforted her when she was a little girl, cheered her throughout her life, and loved her unconditionally.
On the left is Paul Maenner, about to marry his bride, Jeni Stepien, at a church in Pittsburgh. In the middle is Arthur Tom Thomas, who receives the donated heart of the bride’s deceased father. (Jeni Stepien Maenner)
It was such a powerful God Wink that many who attended that day (not just the bride and groom) described it as a life-changing experience.
‘Continuing to bless others’
Jeni Stepien was just 23 years old when her father, Michael, was tragically killed during a robbery in 2006.
His death devastated his close-knit family. But even in the midst of pain, the family chose compassion.
Michael’s wife Bernice and their daughter Jeni agreed to donate Michael’s organs, allowing their loved one’s life to continue blessing others.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
Two days later, hundreds of miles away, Tom Thomas received the life-saving heart transplant he had sought in his daily prayers for nearly a decade. He was seriously ill, could barely walk, and doctors said his life expectancy was measured in days or weeks.
Tom then began a new journey marked by gratitude, kindness, and purpose that would last for another 18 years. She was playing with her unborn grandchildren and inspiring others to seek the gift of kindness every day.
The girl who thought she had lost her father forever suddenly felt a strong reconnection to him on her wedding day. (iStock)
Most transplants remain anonymous, so recipients rarely know the identity of the donor family.
However, he was able to write a heartfelt letter of thanks to the family through CORE (Center for Organ Recovery and Education), the organization that made the donation in Pittsburgh. That letter arrived the day before Christmas.
“Can you walk me down the aisle?”
Over the years, letters were passed between the two families.
Gratitude gradually turned into friendship.
CLICK FOR MORE LIFE STORIES
Tom never missed an event or holiday without sending flowers to the Stepien family. Jeni felt something extraordinary, as if her father’s love was still finding ways to guide her life.
So, as the wedding day approached, she wrote Tom a letter and asked him one question: “Will you walk me down the aisle?”
I am deeply honored
Tom felt like he needed someone’s approval before answering the question. His own daughter was approaching marriageable age and he wanted to make sure she would be okay if he walked down the aisle with another bride first.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
He said yes without hesitation.
There’s another hero to this story: Paul Maenner — Jeni and Tom selflessly supported his new wife, who gained national media attention after appearing on “Fox & Friends” two mornings after the couple’s August 2016 wedding.
The couple at the altar at their Pittsburgh church and Thomas receiving the donated heart of Jeni’s father. (Jeni Stepien Maenner)
In a world often plagued by heartbreak and division, the story confirms that love lives on.
Kindness creates ripples that people may never fully understand or even know.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
On Father’s Day this year, this story is a reminder that a father’s love can still guide his daughter long after he’s gone, and can sometimes find the heart’s way home where it’s needed most.
SQuire Rushnell and Louise DuArt’s latest book is Godwinks for Moms. Learn more at: www.Godwinks.com.
