Three years to the day after a tragic accident led to her son's death, Kim LeBlanc spent the day with the man whose life was saved with her child's heart.
LeBlanc's son Tyler died at 15 years old after being was struck by a tractor trailer while crossing a four-lane highway during his walk to school. He was texting and didn't see the oncoming traffic. The family donated his organs.
Just a few hours after Tyler's death, his heart was transplanted into Dave Allingham, a 40-year-old dad of three. (Earlier that week, doctors told Allingham, who suffered from a genetic heart disease, that he'd only live for another 30 days if he didn’t get a new heart.)
Although it's very unusual for donor families and recipients to ever meet due to strict privacy laws, the families were ultimately connected through a mutual friend who connected the dots.
Allingham first met Schwering's mom in September 2013. They were reconnected again at the annual Heart&Stroke Foundation Ride for Heart in Toronto on Sunday, where they cycled at an event that raises money to battle heart disease.
"Emotions were all over the place,'' LeBlanc told TODAY.com about the event. "It was everything from lots of tears just remembering Tyler and that day (of his accident), to memories of his life, to riding here for a great cause with his heart inside Dave. That brought a lot of joy and peace to us."
Allingham reflected on the life-saving donation and revealed he'll be spending the rest of his life trying to give back to others.
"To have Kim and her family participate, that was priceless,'' Allingham told TODAY.com. "It's Tyler's legacy that lives on. This man is my hero. I've gotten to know who he was and what he stood for, and I know this heart is full of love."
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Tyler's Gift from Hamilton Health Sciences on Vimeo.
Three years to the day after a tragic accident that led to her son's death, Kim LeBlanc spent the day with the man whose life was saved with her child's heart.
