Most brides assume their father will walk them down the aisle on the biggest day of their life.

Unless, of course, Dad is no longer there to do it.

“I felt wonderful about bringing her dad’s heart to Pittsburgh,” said Thomas.

Jeni Stepien, 33, lost her father to murder at the hands of a mugger 10 years ago — but he was physically “present” at her wedding to her new husband Paul this past Friday in Swissvale, Pennsylvania, outside Pittsburgh.

At least, part of him was, anyway, the most important part of all — his beating heart.

Jeni Stepien’s dad Michael, 53, was walking home from his job as head chef at a Swissvale restaurant 10 years ago when he was robbed at gunpoint by a 16-year-old, who shot him in the head at close range, Stepien told The New York Times. (The killer, Leslie L. Brown, was convicted of second-degree murder and is serving 40 years to life, according to multiple news reports.)

“The murder and the wedding happened within a three-block radius,” Stepien, an elementary schoolteacher, told The Times.

The devastated family, gathered around Michael’s bedside, decided to donate Stepien’s organs through Pittsburgh’s Center for Organ Recovery and Education.

Arthur Thomas of Lawrenceville, New Jersey, was the grateful recipient. Thomas, then 62, was just days away from his own death due to ventricular tachycardia, diagnosed 16 years prior.

Flash forward a decade — and Stepien, now engaged to be married, wondered who would walk her down the aisle on the big day. At her fiancé’s suggestion, Jeni Stepien wrote to Thomas, asking him to do the honor, as The Times reported. The Stepien family had kept in touch with Thomas, exchanging cards and letters — but never meeting face-to-face.

Thomas said yes, but only after running the idea by his 30-year-old daughter, Jackie, he told The Times.
“She said, ‘I think it’s a wonderful idea,'” Thomas said of his daughter’s reply. She also told him he should start practicing walking down the aisle, which he did.

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Thomas, a retired college adviser, warned Stepien that his emotions might get the best of him. Stepien said her answer was, “I’ll be right there with you.”

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He had reason to have some emotional jitters. Thomas, 72, said Monday he was in congestive heart failure 10 years earlier when word arrived his doctors had found a heart, The Times reported.

His recipient had lost his life in a violent and tragic event — and the grieving family had made a tough call that would save a stranger’s life, allowing Thomas precious years with his own four kids and family.

The wedding took place on Friday in the Swissvale church where Stepien’s own parents were married. Thomas and the bride met in person the night before, and the bride placed her hand tentatively on Thomas’ chest, breaking into tears.

Thomas suggested Stepien grip his wrist, where his pulse is strongest, according to The Times. “I thought that would be the best way for her to feel close to her dad. That’s her father’s heart beating.”

At the wedding reception, Stepien had the traditional father-daughter dance — a joyous if unconventional one.

The Center for Organ Recovery and Education was thrilled to hear of the special event. “We wish the bride and groom a wonderful honeymoon and life together, and the heart recipient Mr. Thomas continued good health,” Susan Stuart, president and CEO of the organization, told LifeZette. “We hope everyone who has been touched by this story takes a few moments to make the life-affirming decision to register as an organ, tissue, and cornea donor and choose the gift of life.”

Thomas is also joyous about his special role in the happy day. “I felt wonderful about bringing her dad’s heart to Pittsburgh. If I had to, I would’ve walked.”