Heart transplant recipient meets donor's family

LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. (WLS) -- A heart transplant recipient met the donor's family on Monday in north suburban Libertyville.

Melody McIntosh hugged and thanked the parents of Ashley Swart at Condell Hospital. The 20-year old Purdue University student died of a brain aneurysm last year.

She was an organ donor, and McIntosh received her heart.

"I received Ashley's heart on my birthday. I'm just so grateful. So I will live every, every day in honor of her," said McIntosh.

"As hard as it is, it's good to know that Melody, she is just so grateful, and she's really deserving of it and it was wonderful to meet her," said Swart.

Doctors say Ashley Swart also saved the lives of three other organ transplant recipients.