Local Woman's Heart Goes On In Central Fla. Man
Organ Donor's Family Meets Man With Loved One's Heart

Source: WPBF West Palm Beach

WINTER PARK, Fla. -- A Treasure Coast family's loss turned out to be life-saving for a Central Florida man.

Raymond Short is alive because one Vero Beach woman was an organ donor. On Friday, both of their families met.

The family of Shannon Miller was first to arrive at TransLife, an organ and tissue donation service.

Miller, a mother of two, died of a brain hemorrhage a week after her second child was born.

Shannon's family met the man who received her heart Friday afternoon.

"They called at 7:30 to say her heart was beating in someone else, and it just kind of makes it OK," said Miller's sister, Shelby.

Short lives near Orlando, and it was his idea to meet the family connected to his new heart.

"I'm going to try and do this without crying," Short said, as he read a poem he wrote for the family.

"I'm glad that Raymond and his family are embracing us, because it's like a little part of Shannon continues," said Paula Miller, Shannon's mother.