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| Bride Is Walked Down Aisle by the Man Who Got Her Father’s Donated Heart | Bride Is Walked Down Aisle by the Man Who Got Her Father’s Donated Heart |
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| It’s a bittersweet wedding story a decade in the making: Nearly 10 years after Jeni Stepien’s father was killed, the man who received her father’s donated heart traveled from New Jersey to Pennsylvania to walk her down the aisle. | It’s a bittersweet wedding story a decade in the making: Nearly 10 years after Jeni Stepien’s father was killed, the man who received her father’s donated heart traveled from New Jersey to Pennsylvania to walk her down the aisle. |
| “The murder and the wedding happened within a three-block radius” in the town of Swissvale, Pa., Ms. Stepien, an elementary schoolteacher, said in an interview on Monday, as she was about to board a plane for her honeymoon. “And I was just thinking, ‘My dad is here with us, and this man is here with us because of us.’ ” | “The murder and the wedding happened within a three-block radius” in the town of Swissvale, Pa., Ms. Stepien, an elementary schoolteacher, said in an interview on Monday, as she was about to board a plane for her honeymoon. “And I was just thinking, ‘My dad is here with us, and this man is here with us because of us.’ ” |
| This story began in September 2006, when her father, Michael Stepien, was walking home from his job as head chef at a restaurant. Mr. Stepien, 53, was cutting through an alley when he was robbed at gunpoint by a 16-year-old, who shot him in the head at close range, she said. Leslie L. Brown was convicted of second-degree murder in the killing and is serving 40 years to life in prison, according to news reports. | This story began in September 2006, when her father, Michael Stepien, was walking home from his job as head chef at a restaurant. Mr. Stepien, 53, was cutting through an alley when he was robbed at gunpoint by a 16-year-old, who shot him in the head at close range, she said. Leslie L. Brown was convicted of second-degree murder in the killing and is serving 40 years to life in prison, according to news reports. |
| As her father lay dying at a hospital, Ms. Stepien said, her family “decided to accept the inevitable” and donated his organs through an organization called the Center for Organ Recovery and Education. | As her father lay dying at a hospital, Ms. Stepien said, her family “decided to accept the inevitable” and donated his organs through an organization called the Center for Organ Recovery and Education. |
| The organization allows donor families and the recipients to keep in touch with one another after the transplant. Mr. Stepien’s heart went to Arthur Thomas, who lives in New Jersey and who Ms. Stepien said had been within days of dying. | The organization allows donor families and the recipients to keep in touch with one another after the transplant. Mr. Stepien’s heart went to Arthur Thomas, who lives in New Jersey and who Ms. Stepien said had been within days of dying. |
| Through C.O.R.E., the Stepiens kept in touch with Mr. Thomas through letters and emails, even swapping cards on Christmas and flowers on birthdays, but did not meet in person. That changed when Ms. Stepien, 33, became engaged to Paul Maenner, a 34-year-old engineer, in October. | Through C.O.R.E., the Stepiens kept in touch with Mr. Thomas through letters and emails, even swapping cards on Christmas and flowers on birthdays, but did not meet in person. That changed when Ms. Stepien, 33, became engaged to Paul Maenner, a 34-year-old engineer, in October. |
| “One of my first thoughts in that following week was, ‘Who will walk me down the aisle?’ ” Ms. Stepien said. “I was thinking, ‘Oh, my gosh, it would be so incredible to have a physical piece of my father there.’ ” | “One of my first thoughts in that following week was, ‘Who will walk me down the aisle?’ ” Ms. Stepien said. “I was thinking, ‘Oh, my gosh, it would be so incredible to have a physical piece of my father there.’ ” |
| At her fiancé’s suggestion, Ms. Stepien wrote Mr. Thomas, whom the family calls Tom, asking him to walk her down the aisle. He said yes, but warned Ms. Stepien that his emotions might get the best of him, she said. | At her fiancé’s suggestion, Ms. Stepien wrote Mr. Thomas, whom the family calls Tom, asking him to walk her down the aisle. He said yes, but warned Ms. Stepien that his emotions might get the best of him, she said. |
| Ms. Stepien said she felt the same, and told him, “I’ll be right there with you.” | Ms. Stepien said she felt the same, and told him, “I’ll be right there with you.” |
| The wedding took place on Friday in the church in Swissvale where Ms. Stepien’s parents were married. | The wedding took place on Friday in the church in Swissvale where Ms. Stepien’s parents were married. |
| Mr. Thomas told the television station KDKA Pittsburgh that it was impossible to describe how it felt to meet members of the Stepien family in person. | Mr. Thomas told the television station KDKA Pittsburgh that it was impossible to describe how it felt to meet members of the Stepien family in person. |
| “You can never imagine what that would be like unless you actually do it,” Mr. Thomas said. “There are so many emotions involved in what you’re doing.” | “You can never imagine what that would be like unless you actually do it,” Mr. Thomas said. “There are so many emotions involved in what you’re doing.” |
| Efforts to reach Mr. Thomas on Monday were unsuccessful. | Efforts to reach Mr. Thomas on Monday were unsuccessful. |
| At the church, the bride was photographed touching Mr. Thomas’s chest and gripping his wrist to feel his pulse. At the reception, they danced together. | At the church, the bride was photographed touching Mr. Thomas’s chest and gripping his wrist to feel his pulse. At the reception, they danced together. |
| “I am so grateful for every single moment that led up to this,” said Ms. Stepien, who is going to take her husband’s last name. “I cannot think of a person more deserving of my father’s heart than Tom.” |