Thirty three year old Jeni Stepien recently married Paul Maenner in Pennsylvania.

The Bride’s father Michael Stepien was killed ten years ago so he wasn’t there at the wedding but his heart was present at Jeni’s wedding. After Michael was robbed and fatally shot on his way home from his job, his heart was successfully transplanted to another person. Our bride had asked the man who received her father’s heart- Arthur Thomas, to be present in her wedding and give her away to the groom. She had met retired college advisor Mr Thomas, 72, for the first time only the day before her wedding.

“About two months ago, I got a letter from Jeni,” Mr Thomas said.

“She said, ‘I am the daughter of the person whose heart is inside you and I wondered if you and your wife Nancy could come to my wedding. I would love it if you walk me down the aisle.’

“I was stunned. I thought, ‘oh my God, it’s so perfect that she would want her dad’s heart at the wedding.'”

After he walked her to the altar, Mr Thomas put her hand on his heart, gave her a kiss and then handed her over to her groom, Paul Maenner.

“Thank you so much for coming,” the bride said to him tearfully.