The bride, Jeni Stepien, walked down the aisle “with her father” on the day of her wedding.
Daughters have likely been daydreaming about this moment ever since they first envisioned themselves wed to the guy they have loved.
This significant event represents the conclusion of many years of parental guidance, as it is the point at which a father ultimately releases his daughter into the world.
But things turned out differently this time.
However, this is an opportunity that does not present itself to every bride. Some dads are deprived of their children in the cruelest of ways, and Stepien’s dad was one of those whose brides were taken away from them.
Her dad, Michael Stepien, was killed in a brutal murder eleven years before to her wedding.
After the traumatic event, the Stepiens had no choice but to figure out how to get by without their breadwinner.
Love came into Jeni’s life in the end.
She made the decision to get married.
However, despite her deepest desires, it was not possible for her father to be there to accompany her down the aisle on such a momentous occasion. That was, however, before she became acquainted with Arthur Thomas.
When Stepien was killed, Arthur Thomas was on the verge of passing away.
He had to wait for a heart for 16 years.
Thomas was the lucky recipient of Michael’s heart. This provided him with a fresh start in life, in which the presence of another individual remained for as long as he did himself.
Since then, Jeni has never stopped believing that her biological father was somewhere “out there.”
In the ten years that passed after Stepien’s father passed away and before her wedding, Stepien’s family and Thomas kept in touch with one another through phone calls and letters.
Jeni has never actually spoken with Thomas face to face.
That is, until Jeni wrote Thomas a letter in which she asked for a very special favor for one of the most important days of her life, and Thomas got the letter.
I want you to walk me down the aisle.
Thomas said: “Jeni wrote me a letter and she said ‘Dear Tom, I’m the daughter of the man who’s heart is inside of you and I’m gonna get married on August 6th,’ ‘And one further thing if you’re willing, would you walk me down the aisle?’”
Thomas left New Jersey and drove all the way to Pennsylvania solely to keep a promise of a dad. He did this after gaining permission from his daughter.
With Michael’s heart beating in his chest, Thomas led Jeni down the aisle.
There isn’t a more wonderful moment than this.
Jeni thanked Thomas with tears in her eyes and a heart full of love.
The older man quickly responded, saying that he should be grateful for the great honor bestowed upon him.
He even invited her to sense his pulse, which represented Jeni’s late dad’s heartbeat.
Jeni couldn’t help but cry as she put her hand on Thomas’ chest.
Wishing you and your family all the happiness