When 18-year-old David "Andy" Dyer passed away in 2011, the donation of his organs saved the lives of four people.
On Saturday, Dyer's family met one of the recipients for the first time.
Kristin Freeman received Andy's heart when she was 27.
"After thinking about it, we thought it would be appropriate given that Andy gave so much during his life," said Andy's dad, David.
Andy's mom told Nashville's News 2 she remembers sitting with him while in the hospital.
"I could just remember so many times in his 17 years of life, laying in the bed with him and resting my head on his chest," said Tara Dyer. "[I would] listen to his heart and just thinking, 'Oh gosh, you have such a strong heart.' I loved that sound."
Everyone in Andy's family agreed with the decision to donate his organs, including his sister Kelsee, who said she became a nurse because of her brother.
"As much as we all want Andy here today, he would say he wanted to make that decision to donate his organs," she said.
Dyer's family recently contacted Freeman on Facebook, and they arranged to meet at Tennessee Donor Services, which facilitates organ donations around Tennessee.
After complications during pregnancy, Freeman's doctors discovered she had congestive heart failure.
After giving birth to her son, she was put on a defibrillator. Two years later, her blood pressure bottomed out and she was told her heart was only functioning at 10%.
"I was getting ready to pick my son up after school and got the call around 12 o'clock," Freeman recalled. "I felt better instantly," she said. "I could breathe."
Freeman said she is saddened that a family had to lose their son, but is appreciative they were thinking of others during such a hard time.
"I'm grateful he considered helping other people and it was something he wanted to do after he left this world," she said.
Tennessee Donor Services presented Dyer's family with a Donor Medallion, and the family and Freeman discussed Dyer's gift and the importance of organ donation.
Learn more about becoming an organ donor, visit DonatelifeTN.org.
