A son’s heart brings two families healing
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – Two Ohio families are now one. They were brought together by a young man who dreamed of serving others, but ended up saving others.
“I’m really nervous,” said Shelby LaPine as she took a deep breath. “But, I’m excited. I’m excited. I’ve waited and prayed for this day since June 13, last year.”
She sits inside Wilmington Church of God; a mother waiting for a reunion of sorts. “This was the place where,” she paused. “The last time I hugged my son.”
Luke LaPine, 19, received his graduation bible here on a Sunday, and suffered a head injury on the job the next morning that would end his life four days later. Luke worked road construction for the county.
“He loved this church,” smiled Shelby through eyes welling with tears. “He really did.”
That is not where Luke’s story ends; Luke was an organ donor. His gift helped improve, and in some cases, save the lives of more than 70 people through tissue and organ transplants. On this day, Shelby and her husband, Tom, are meeting the man who received Luke’s heart.
“I’m very excited because it’s something that’s still alive; he’s alive because of my son,” said Tom.”There’s just something about the heart,” said Shelby.
A humbling reality not lost on Bill Repp, 57, from the Columbus area. “There’s no way I can imagine what they’re going through,” he said while waiting in the room next door.
Without the transplant, Bill says he knows he would not be here today. Here with his wife, children, and grandchild. They are all waiting with him to meet the LaPine Family, along with their closest loved ones.
Turns out, the two families live less than two hours apart. Life Connection Ohio helped put them in touch. They have only exchanged e-mails and talked on the phone until now.
Bill, Shelby, and Tom immediately fell into an embrace, and tears quickly followed.
Tom wrote a number of songs to honor his son and to cope with the grief of losing a child. The songs are performed by the band, Gran Bel Fisher of Ohio.
The words to one song are as follows:
May the work I have done, speak for me. I was there for my friends and family. May the work I have done speak for me. May you help out others in their time of need. May the work, I have done speak for me.
The lyrics spoke volumes as the families held each other close. Shelby used a stethoscope to listen. A heartbeat, music to a mother’s ear. “I could hear it, yeah, It’s going ‘hi mom, hi mom, hi mom!’”
“I hope they understand he went to a good place, and he’s still alive, he’s alive here,” said Bill, pointing to his chest.
A young man who dreamed of being a police officer and ended up serving in another way. Two families entered this church and leave as one.
“I’m so proud of him,” said Shelby about Luke. “I’m trying to get the awareness out there, not only for the recipients, but for the donor families as well because you’re loved one may be gone, but they do truly live on in other people. It’s not final.”
Shelby and Tom have started a scholarship in Luke’s memory, and also encourage you to talk with your loved ones about becoming an organ donor if you are not already.