Father hears dead son's heartbeat in organ recipient's chest

A Texas father heard his dead son's heartbeat in a woman who received his heart

ByJesse Convertino
February 14, 2020, 5:09 PM

A Texas father had another chance to hear his son’s heartbeat -- nearly two years after he died.

In a touching video, Jordan Spahn listens via a stethoscope to Kristi Richard Russ’ chest. Russ was a recipient of Spahn’s late son’s heart.

PHOTO: Jordan Spahn and his fiancee, Summer Mossbarger, of Brenham, Texas, pose with Kristi Richard Russ who received Matthew Spahn's heart after he was struck by a car and later died.
Jordan Spahn and his fiancee, Summer Mossbarger, of Brenham, Texas, pose with Kristi Richard Russ who received Matthew Spahn's heart after he was struck by a car and later died.
Courtesy Summer Mossbarger

"So strong, so strong," Spahn says in the video.

"That it is," Russ tells him. "When it’s quiet at night we can hear it without the stethoscope."

Matthew Spahn, Jordan’s son, was 21 years old when he was struck by a vehicle walking home and later died in October 2018, Summer Mossbarger, Jordan Spahn’s fiancee told ABC News. Matthew was an award-winning runner.

PHOTO: Kristi Richard Russ holds a stethoscope to her chest so that Jordan Spahn of Brenham, Texas, can listen to his dead son's heartbeat in a photo shared via Facebook on Feb. 10, 2020.
Kristi Richard Russ holds a stethoscope to her chest so that Jordan Spahn of Brenham, Texas, can listen to his dead son's heartbeat in a photo shared via Facebook on Feb. 10, 2020.
Courtesy Summer Mossbarger

"Yeah, he’s probably out there running laps," Spahn says in the video as he listens to his son’s heart beating in Russ’ chest.

Since Matthew’s untimely death, he has donated seven organs, saving the lives of up to five people -- including Russ.

ABC News' Cammeron Parrish contributed to this report.