Mother hears dead son’s heartbeat in transplant recipient for first time

Levi Schulz died in a car crash in 2012 and his heart was given to Terry Hooper three days later

A mother has heard her son’s heartbeat for the first time since his death after she met with the man who received his heart in a life-saving transplant operation.

Lisa Swanson’s 18-year-old son Levi Schulz died in a car crash in December 2012. Three days later Terry Hooper, who had been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, received the teenager’s heart in a transplant.

Mr Hooper, now 64, met with Ms Swanson for the first time at the Nebraska Medical Centre in Omaha, while wearing a T-shirt with Levi’s image on it. He cried when meeting Ms Swanson and said her son was his “hero”.

Ms Swanson, who was accompanied by Levi’s twin brother, Shelby Schulz, broke down when she listened to the sound of her son’s heart through an ultrasound.

When asked how the ultrasound sounded to her, Ms Swanson said: “Really good, it definitely sounds like it belongs there.”

She said she feels “happiness and sadness all at the same time – sad that my son’s not here but happy that he was able to help Terry”.

Mr Hooper also presented Ms Swanson with a toy bear that plays the sound of her son’s heart, which she said she would listen to “every night”.