A tragic accident took the life of a teenage boy.
Now almost three years later his mother is reconnecting with her son by hearing his heart beat through a transplant patient.
Sunday Anna Hutt met Gary Flint years after his heart transplant and the loss of her son.
“I was here and I didn’t think they would find a heart for me.”
Flint says he was living his normal life when one day his doctor told him his lips were blue and he needed to stay the night at the hospital.
“I figured I was just getting older and out of shape.”
But it was more to it than that, doctors told Flint his heart was failing him and he only had about two to three months to live.
“I didn’t know I needed a heart transplant, I was just getting awfully tired.”
Flint has a condition that causes his heart to enlarge, he said he made peace with dying, and thought it was the end.
“May 23rd I was born again.”
16 year old Payton Casteel was hit by a van riding his dirt bike.
Days later Flint received Payton’s heart.
“He had a zest for life he lived life to the fullest.”
Payton’s mother Anna Hutt says initially her son’s decision to be a donor wasn’t something she was ok with.
“I said no, I don’t think you’re going to do that, and he said no I want be a donor.”
Now inspired by her son’s bravery Hutt says she’s happy a piece of her son still lives on.
“Payton is living through me because when she talks about him loving cars, motorcycles, music a prankster.”
Nebraska Medicine says Payton’s organs actually saved seven people.
Flint and Hutt say they will keep in touch.
