Current Date: 18 Sep, 2025
{{entry.title}}

Mom hears son's heartbeat 3 years after his death when she meets organ recipient

She agreed to donate her son's organs after his sudden death in June 2013 at the age of 7 months. The grieving mother was able to listen to her late son’s heart beating inside the little girl who received the organ after his death.

When Lukas Clark was brutally mistreated by a babysitter, he was only 7 months old. After spending days lying in the hospital, his mother, Heather Clark, was informed that her son had a very small chance of surviving.

The Rancho Cucamonga, California, mother, 25, had been questioned numerous times about organ donation, but she had delayed responding until she had had time to consider the situation in its entirety.

Mom hears sons heartbeat 3 years after his death when she meets organ recipient 1
Heather Clark plays with her only son, Lukas. Photo Credit: Donor Network of America

Lukas’s mother bravely decided to give her son’s organs in the midst of her anguish. She finally had the chance to hear his heartbeat three years later, this time via the chest of a grateful little 4-year-old.

I didn’t want another mother or family to experience what I was about to — or feel what I was about to feel.

Up until now, three different people have been rescued by Lukas’ organs.

Mom hears sons heartbeat 3 years after his death when she meets organ recipient 2
Heather Clark hears her son’s heartbeat for the first time in three years. Photo Credit: Donor Network of America

In 2013, Clark wrote a letter that was meant to be read by the person who would be receiving his organs. She collaborated with One Legacy in the hopes of establishing a relationship with the recipient of Lukas’ heart.

Jordan Drake was that patient. Jordan and her mother Esther Gonzalez, 34, who reside in Chandler, Arizona, contacted Clark over Facebook in 2013 after learning she had been attempting to get in touch with them. However, the mail was automatically swept into another folder and ignored for two years.

Jordan was identified as having the congenital cardiac disease as a baby. Gonzalez was informed by doctors at Phoenix Children’s Hospital that her daughter, who was only three months old at the time, would require surgery to replace defective valves in a few years.

Mom hears sons heartbeat 3 years after his death when she meets organ recipient 3
Jordan Drake had her first surgery in July 2012. Photo Credit: Donor Network of America

However, soon after, when Jordan was 4 1/2 months old, medical professionals decided that her condition was severe and they would no longer be able to postpone the surgery.

Jordan underwent surgery at the five-month milestone. Doctors decided to introduce a mechanical valve as opposed to fixing damaged ones.

Jordan was put on blood thinners, which proved to be difficult given the normal weight changes and food requirements that a toddler undergoes. With that came a lot of upkeep and instability.

The first 15 months of Jordan’s life were spent in this manner. At that moment, they came to the conclusion that her only chance of surviving was a heart transplant.

Mom hears sons heartbeat 3 years after his death when she meets organ recipient 4
Jordan Drake suffered a stroke in 2012. Photo Credit: Donor Network of America

“Blood thinners ended up being more of a harm than help,” Gonzalez told TODAY. “She suffered stomach bleeds, brain bleeds, seizures, and a stroke. She had to have brain surgery — doctors opened up her head to release the pressure of the blood.”

Jordan’s family was informed by phone on June 22, 2013, that medical professionals could have located a heart that would work as a match for her transplant. The 18-month-old was having surgery the next day.

“When they said the heart was good, my instant reaction was that my daughter would get a second chance at life,” Gonzalez said. “But then on the flip side, it took me about a second to realize that through our joy, another mother was grieving.”

Jordan is now healthy as a result of the successful surgery, although she will need to take transplant medication for the rest of her life.

Mom hears sons heartbeat 3 years after his death when she meets organ recipient 5
Jordan Drake in her bee costume for Halloween 2014. Photo Credit: Donor Network of America

The message Jordan and her mother sent back in 2013 was unexpectedly discovered by Clark when she was looking through Facebook notifications this past Thanksgiving.

On December 23, 2015, Clark experienced the “biggest holiday miracle” when Jordan and her mother promptly responded, starting this correspondence.

Clark told TODAY, “I just looked at her and I knew.” It helped me get through the holidays. It was insane to be able to text them and ask them to wish Jordan a Merry Christmas.

Mom hears sons heartbeat 3 years after his death when she meets organ recipient 6
Jordan Drake, alive and healthy in 2013. Photo Credit: Donor Network of America

Following that, the families began corresponding more frequently and planning the day when they would eventually be able to meet.

Soon enough the big day, January 29, 2016, came around. I believe I was more anxious than nervous on the big day, said Clark, who drove 5 1/2 hours from California to Arizona. I was anxious when I first got out of my car and walked up since Jordan is just great.

She was worried, though, for no reason. Jordan and Clark rushed toward one another and gave each other a bear hug as soon as they locked eyes.

Hearing her son’s heartbeat once more was the event that truly altered Heather’s life. She was rendered speechless by the intensity of it all.

Mom hears sons heartbeat 3 years after his death when she meets organ recipient 7
Jordan Drake meets Heather Clark for the first time at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Photo Credit: Donor Network of America
Similar Stories
Toddler Calls 911 Accidentally and Saves Dad's Life

Toddler Calls 911 Accidentally and Saves Dad's Life

A father from Florida collapsed on the floor during a medical episode. Fortunately, his toddler son dialed 911 by accident and saved his life. An officer from the Hernando County Sheriff's Office arrived quickly and administered first aid before transporting him to a nearby hospital.

Water park in japan, ocean dome: Largest indoor water park in the world

Water park in japan, ocean dome: Largest indoor water park in the world

The Seagaia Ocean Dome, located in Miyazaki, Japan, was the biggest indoor waterpark in the world. An "Ocean" six times the size of an Olympic pool, filled with 13,500 tons of unsalted, chlorinated water kept heated at 28 degrees Celsius and recognized as the largest simulated pool by the Guinness Book of World Records, measures 12,000 square meters of the sandy beach made from 600 tons of stone.

ILOVEYOU Virus, the worst computer virus of all time

ILOVEYOU Virus, the worst computer virus of all time

The ILOVEYOU Virus, also known as Love Letter for You or Love Bug, had a high infection rate due to its ability to spread itself by copying entries from users' email address books. It is a virus that was created in 2000 by a college student in Manilla, Philippines, and was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the worst computer virus of all time, causing more damage than anything before it.

Abraham Crijnssen – The Ship That Disguised Itself As An Island

Abraham Crijnssen – The Ship That Disguised Itself As An Island

During World War II a Dutch minesweeper evaded the Japanese for eight days disguised as an island. The crew covered the decks in cut trees and painted exposed surfaces to look like rocks. They moved only at night and anchored closed to shore by day, eventually escaping to Australia.

JBJ Soul Kitchen: Bon Jovi's community restaurant

JBJ Soul Kitchen: Bon Jovi's community restaurant

JBJ Soul Kitchen is a community restaurant by Jon Bon Jovi with no prices on the menu; customers donate to pay for their meals. If you are unable to donate you may do volunteer work in exchange for your family’s meal.

How hero parrot saved little girl who was choking on her breakfast

How hero parrot saved little girl who was choking on her breakfast

In 2008 Quaker parrot Willie alerted his owner Megan Howard when the little girl she was babysitting began to choke. Howard was in the bathroom when the parrot repeatedly yelled "Mama! Baby!" flapping his wings. Megan rushed and performed the Heimlich maneuver, saving her life. Willie received the Red Cross Animal Lifesaver Award.

China Weather Control on 2008 Olympics with missile

China Weather Control on 2008 Olympics with missile

One thing is certain: when it comes to ensuring nice weather for the world's largest party, the Chinese cannot be accused of being subtle. The Chinese government authorized the use of 1,104 cloud seeding missile launches from 4:00-11:39 p.m. on Friday night to reduce the possibility of rain ahead of the 29th Olympic opening ceremony in Beijing

24-year-old burglar beaten by retired boxer victim

24-year-old burglar beaten by retired boxer victim

A 24-year-old knife-wielding burglar attempted to get into the home of a 72-year-old senior in Oxford, England, in 2009, but was left battered, bruised, and pinned to the ground. Frank Corti, the elderly, turned out to be a former boxing champion.

'Press Your Luck' Was Hacked in 1984 by an Ice Cream Man

'Press Your Luck' Was Hacked in 1984 by an Ice Cream Man

in 1984 an contestant made it onto the game show Press Your Luck. He discovered using his stop-motion VCR that the presumed random patterns of the game board were not random and memorized the sequences. On the game he was on, he won 45 consecutive spins. winning $110,237 in cash & prizes.

Australian man dies, comes back to life, and wins the lottery twice

Australian man dies, comes back to life, and wins the lottery twice

Bill Morgan, an Australian, is a man who has beat the odds. He escaped death by surviving a horrific automobile accident and heart attack before collapsing into a coma and going on to win the lotto twice. He went from losing virtually everything to winning far more than he could have imagined.