The saying that a father holds his daughter’s hand for a short while, but she holds his heart forever might have been written for Jim and his beautiful daughter Ellis. Their bond is strong and the brass ring of walking his baby girl down the aisle “one day”, kept Jim going throughout the sometimes devastating journey of heart transplantation.

When faced with the unimaginable consequences of serious health issues, it’s common to look at milestones in life or special dates in the offing as something for which to strive. Many of us who have taken the journey along with Jim and Marah know that the milestone for them was always Ellis’ future wedding day.

Jim was able to grab that brass ring only a few weeks ago when he walked Ellis to her soon-to-be husband. The joy on both their faces is beyond inspiring, it’s miraculous. It’s a wedding moment that always brings a tear to your eye, but for Jim, Ellis and those who love them, it threatened a tsunami of emotion. It’s a moment of pure love and possible because of the generosity of a stranger whose donated heart provided Jim this day (and many more).

Here’s to many more milestones Jim, and here’s to Ellis and Michael and their very bright future. Xo

#jimshearts #beinspired #beadonor