An emotional meeting took place this weekend between the recipient of an organ donation and the family of the man whose donation saved her life. The Indiana Donor Network organized the gathering between the families of Sharon Culbreath, the organ recipient, and Joseph Reaume, the organ donor. Sharon, of Elkhart, developed a heart problem in 2020 that left her on the transplant list. When Joseph Reaume died unexpectedly, she received his heart. Sharon reached out to Joseph’s mother, Teena Smith, in the hope of meeting her. That happened Saturday at Papa Vino’s in St. Joseph. Sharon told us it was special to meet the mother of the man whose heart saved her life.
“I was so happy,” Culbreath said. “I was happy and I couldn’t wait for this moment. I couldn’t sleep last night. I was excited. I didn’t think I was going to shed one tear, but then when I saw her in person, it was just emotional, and I just couldn’t do nothing but hug her and tell her how grateful I was to have her and to have her in my life, and I just want to stay connected to her for the rest of our lives.”
Teena Smith told us her son was the sort of person who would sacrifice to help others. When he died, she heard his voice telling her to let his organs be donated. Teena later received a Build a Bear from Sharon with a recording of Joseph’s, and now Sharon’s, heartbeat.
“It was the most beautiful gift I had ever had,” Smith said. “It was just so awesome, and at that point, I knew that they gave his heart to the right person.”
Teena and Sharon sat next to each other Saturday and reflected on Joseph, and what his passing has meant for Sharon.
“It is bittersweet because I kept thinking of you guys,” Culbreath told Smith. “It’s sad that someone has to die. It’s very sad.”
“But God says that when one door closes, a new one opens,” Smith told Culbreath. “So, for me, the door for my son has closed, but the door for his life to go on was opened for you.”
Teena said her son lives on in Sharon. The two plan to stay in touch with Teena telling us she’s invited Sharon’s family to a cookout at her Pullman home in May. Sharon told everyone present that they should never give up, and she asked everyone to consider becoming an organ donor. The Indiana Donor Network tells us nearly 90% of organ recipients never meet the families of their donors. Saturday’s gathering was a rare exception.
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