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Family of Daughter Killed in Car Accident Meets Organ Recipient for First Time
Posted Friday, July 30, 2010 ; 06:05 PM | View Comments | Post Comment
Updated Friday, July 30, 2010; 11:34 PM

It has been a little over two years since 21 year-old Heather Miller died in a car accident back in March of 2008. The third year of the annual Heather Miller Golf Scramble at Oglebay Park took place in her honor Friday, and gave Heather's family the chance to finally meet one of Heather's organ recipients.

By Amy Wadas
Email | Bio | Other Stories by Amy Wadas

WHEELING -- After years of anticipation and waiting, the Miller family has finally had the chance to meet Heather's left kidney recipient. Heather Miller died in a car accident at the age of 21 in March of 2008. She donated her heart and both of her kidneys to three people in desperate need.

"I mean I just felt like my heart was coming out of my chest and she comes down the escalator and my husband and I both saw her. She started waving and part of me felt like she resembled my daughter," Heather's mother Jody Miller said.

Ever since that special moment, it was an instant connection. Jen Jordan can only describe it with one word.

"Elation. Like amazing. Like coming home. Just seeing family I haven't seen in a long time," eather's organ recipient Jen Jordan said.

What is even more amazing is the fact that both Jody and Jen have tattoos symbolizing their experience. Each woman got their tattoo before meeting each other. Jen had her tattoo done as a thank you for her kidney before she even knew Heather was the donor. Heather's mom got her tattoo to remember the life of her daughter. This makes the family's bond even stronger.

"I just really look at her as one of the kids. You might say this, oh my gosh, she reminds me of my daughter. But she does. She has a lot of the same characteristics," Heather's father Gary Miller said.

"She touched so many peoples' lives and I mean she was my best friend and we shared everything. Now Jen's here and it's funny. I went to get her hair done and I said are you okay, can I leave you and she's like yes mom," Jody Miller mentioned.

Some may say fate does not exist, but in this case, fate is the perfect word for this family.

"They told me it's a one in a million chance from someone you don't know. Normally it would be a sister that would be the closest match in the family. I guess it was meant to be and she's my sister," Jen Jordan explained.

The golf scramble held Friday raises money for a scholarship fund in Heather's memory. The money goes to West Virginia University nursing students.

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