Woman who received heart of 21-year-old killed by drunk driver vows to finish young girl’s bucket list

A 64-year-old woman has made a promise to fulfil the bucket list of a nursing student killed by a drunk driver - whose heart was used to save her life.

Kristina2

by Ellie Hooper |
Published on

Kristina Chesterman, 21, was left brain-dead when a drink driver ploughed into her when she was riding her bike home from University.

The blonde student was an organ donor and when she died, her heart was given to 64-year-old Susan Vieria.

Susan had been suffering from congestive heart failure and said she'd never dreamed that they would find a cure for her.

But, after a successful heart transplant, Susan decided to track down the donor's family in order to thank them.

And after meeting up with Kristina's family for the first time, Vieiria vowed she would do all the things that the young student had never had a chance to do.

From Kristina Chesterman's Facebook Tribute page
From Kristina Chesterman's Facebook Tribute page

Kristina's bucket list stretched from learning to pilot a plane to travelling around the world and riding a camel.

Two of Kristina's friends ran through a poppy field in her memory

She also wanted to run through a poppy field and fly in a hot air balloon.

Kristina's organs were donated to five people - including 2 babies, and her mother said this would have pleased her daughter who always wanted to help others.

She often donated blood and registered as an organ donor at the age of 18.

A memorial to Kristina near the spot she died

Her friend Leslie said: 'You wonder why someone like that is taken so young, but I believe Kristina was one of those very rare people who was so complete as a person already…The rest of us are just a work in progress.

The 19-year-old drunk driver who crashed into Kristina in September 2013, then fled, is currently awaiting trial.

Visit Kristina's Facebook page here.

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