In the fall of 2015, Chris Dempsey overheard a coworker talking about his cousin, Heather Krueger. The 25-year-old had been diagnosed with stage-four liver disease and doctors could not find a donor.
There was more than a 50 percent chance that she would die in the next two months without a match. In addition to having the same blood type, the donor would need to be in optimal health and have a liver roughly the same shape as Krueger’s.
Dempsey had never met the woman in need, but he decided to get tested anyway. Now, just one year later…
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…they’re married! When Dempsey donated his liver, he had no idea that he was saving his future bride. But what inspired the generous act in the first place?
He told CBS, “I spent four years in the Marine Corps and learned there never to run away from anything. So I just said to myself, ‘Hey, if I can help, I’m going to help.'”
It took surgeons over eight hours to transplant half of Dempsey’s liver into Krueger’s body. Both were exhausted but made full recoveries.
As if that wasn’t enough, the generous donor also helped set up a fundraiser to pay for Krueger’s medical expenses.
The pair remained close after the life-changing event, even attending organ donation fundraising events and showing off their scars. It wasn’t long before they realized that their bond went way beyond friendship.
In her vows, she told her husband-to-be, “Because of you, I laugh, smile, and I dare to dream again.”
To hear more of this amazing couple’s story, check out the video below.
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Congratulations, Heather and Chris! Your story gives me more feels than a Nicholas Sparks book.
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