Minnesota family hears son's heartbeat in another man's chest


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ROCHESTER, Minn. (KARE) — Tom Meeks spent three years waiting for a heart transplant. Back in April of 2011, the Vietnam Veteran was diagnosed with a rare heart disease called amyloidosis. Doctors said he wouldn't survive without a transplant

In November of 2013, Meeks and his wife, Ann, packed their bags and moved to Rochester, Minnesota, where they would wait for the call.

That call came in March. His wait was finally over.

While Meeks and his wife got the call they hoped for, the Heisler family got a call no family wants. It was Sunday. The call came at 4 a.m.

Matthew Heisler, 21, a student at the University of North Dakota, had been involved in a house fire. His friend and roommate, Ryan Nelson, pulled Matthew Heisler from the burning home and performed CPR until help arrived.

Watch the video above or visit KARE's website for more of the story.

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