'I've been in tears on and off': Winnipeg woman meets the recipient of her brother's heart 32 years later
A Winnipeg woman waited 32 years, but she was finally able to meet the man who received her brother's heart as part of an organ transplant.
In 1989, Susanne Hickey's brother Lee died after a serious accident and his heart was donated to Dan Kobylka.
"This was kind of the only other options, I guess, was to have him carry on by helping other people carry on. So my parents at the time are the ones that made the choice to have him donate his organs," said Hickey.
She said Kobylka and her family connected online a few years ago and have been keeping in touch over that time.
Hickey said her family decided to invite Kobylka to Winnipeg for the weekend as they are holding a family event and felt he should be a part of it.
"Its been a whirlwind. I've been in tears on and off knowing this whole thing has been happening and coming up,” said Hickey.
Finally, the time came on Thursday as Kobylka flew in from Toronto. Hickey picked him up at Winnipeg's airport.
After Kobylka came down the escalator, the pair embraced, sharing a few tears and laughs as well.
"For the first time I feel like Lee's not my donor. I'm his recipient and that means a lot to me," said Kobylka.
He originally required the heart transplant as he suffered from dilated cardiomyopathy—a genetic disease in his family—that causes the heart to grow too big and stop working.
After hugging Hickey, Kobylka pulled out a bag of letters from his friends and family, as well as the adult baseball team that he coaches, all of which thanked Hickey and her family for saving his life.
He called this meeting with Hickey rare, noting not many organ recipients get to meet the donor's family.
"I'm excited and I'm really nervous. Like heart transplants are not new for me but meeting a donor family is new. That's virgin territory. I'm very nervous. I want to do everything right this weekend,” said Kobylka.
Both Kobylka and Hickey hope this meeting shows others across the country how important it is to be an organ donor and what it can provide for others.
"What's there to think about? If you can donate it, donate it. You know, if somebody's life can continue on, help that happen," said Hickey.
Kobylka has been calling Hickey and her family his donor's family ever since he received the heart transplant. He hopes by the end of the weekend he can drop the word donor and just call them his family.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Wildfires are dampening against cool, rainy weather, but there's plenty left to contain
An opportune system of cool, wet weather Friday is dampening the spread of wildfires across Western Canada, but there's still plenty of work for responders and residents alike.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
Dabney Coleman, actor who specialized in curmudgeons, dies at 92
Dabney Coleman, the mustachioed character actor who specialized in smarmy villains like the chauvinist boss in '9 to 5' and the nasty TV director in 'Tootsie,' has died. He was 92.
Information commissioner faces $700K funding shortfall, says system is 'overwhelmed'
Canada's information commissioner says her office is facing a $700,000 funding shortfall that could impact its ability to investigate complaints about government transparency and accountability.
Backlash over NFL player Harrison Butker's commencement speech has reached a new level
The NFL is distancing itself from controversial comments by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker during a recent commencement address.
Craig Berube named as next head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have named Craig Berube as their new head coach.
B.C. man 'attacked suddenly' by adult grizzly near Alberta boundary: RCMP
A B.C. man is recovering from multiple injuries after he was "attacked suddenly" by an adult grizzly bear near Elkford Thursday afternoon.