PA Bride 'Given Away' By Man Who Got Her Dad's Heart - Literally

Instead of having her dad walk her down the aisle, she got his heart. Literally.

A Pennsylvania woman invited Arthur Thomas, a New Jersey man who received his heart in a life-saving transplant 10 years ago, to walk her down the aisle during her Friday wedding, according to CBS Pittsburgh.

He gladly accepted, and he traveled to the ceremony at the St. Anselm church in Swissvale, Pa. on Friday to happily assist Jeni Stepien.

Thomas and Stepien had corresponded by letter and talked on the phone periodically for 10 years, but they finally met in person on Friday, according to nj.com.

Stepien's father, Michael Stepien, was killed by a mugger in Swissvale, Pa. 10 years ago, and Thomas subsequently received the deceased man's heart. He had been waiting 16 years for a donor before undergoing the life-saving operation, according to the report.

“I was on death’s door when he was murdered and I needed a heart or I was going to be dying in the next few days,” Thomas told CBS Pittsburgh.

Jeni asked Thomas if he would do the honors in a letter, which also heartened Paul Maenner, her groom.

“I was just so thankful that my dad could be here with us today in spirit and a piece of his physical being as well. That was really special for us,” she told the station.

Photo courtesy of CBS Pittsburgh