Laurie Pierce and Garret Leopold have a special connection with each other. Tragically, Laurie lost her daughter over four years ago in a horrible car accident.
Laurie’s daughter Amanda Pierce was an organ donor, which meant that her organs including her heart could be used to save other people’s lives.
“She was really beautiful on the outside, but inside she was so much more,” Amanda’s mom Laurie said in an interview with Fox 13 News. “Loving and beautiful. She saw people with her heart, not with her eyes.”
One of those people was Garret.
Garret was diagnosed with a rare heart disease ever since he was a baby. The condition is known as the hypoplastic left heart syndrome, and it basically prevents Garret’s left half of heart to develop sufficiently.
The boy received Amanda’s heart shortly after the accident and made a full recovery. Years later, both Garret and Laurie decided that they would reunite for a special occasion.
The American Heart Association’s Heart Ball was being held, and as a special honor to Amanda, Garret and Laurie were granted a personal dance by the organization.
“To think how special it is to dance with the donor’s mother. It’s just something that I will never forget,” Garrett recalls.
“It was magical,” Laurie agreed. “It was incredible the venue the love in the room. The unbelievable generosity from the people there. It was a magical night.”
It undoubtedly must’ve made for a very special and heartfelt moment that was shared between them.
“It meant so much to me, and I know it meant so much to her,” Garret said. “It’s something that I will cherish for the rest of my life.”
Garret and Laurie’s story went viral on the internet, with many people showing their admiration and support for the two, and some even including their own personal stories about how organ donation truly touches lives.
“I think it is great when they let the recipient meet the donors family and let them see for themselves what the gift of an organ means to them.” (Marcia Zanin)
“My husband Pete received a kidney from a lady in Ohio that died in a car accident. Thank you and your family for that unselfish act. My husband waited 4 yrs. and is doing well.” (Kathy D)
The two have a loving bond between each other and give each other a warm hug whenever the opportunity arises.
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