Heart of the City...

xReverend Billy Kyles came to speak to us at MTR today. He told us the story of his grandson Quinn. Quinn needed a heart transplant before he was even born; his heart needed to be completely replaced because it couldn't be fixed. The insurance company refused to pay for the procedure. At the time, it was considered "experimental." There was only a 40-day window to perform the surgery, and the monumental cost loomed over Quinn's family.

Word spread about Quinn's heart, and people poured money in. There was going to be enough to start paying for the surgery. But, all the money was useless until a heart was found.

Then, a couple was losing their little child. Like I said, Quinn's story had spread, and this couple knew about his situation. They contacted the Kyles, and told them they wanted Quinn to have their baby's heart.

Quinn was delivered and rushed to another hospital in the same city. The operation was performed, successful and everything seemed like it would be okay. Just when it seemed like it was all over, the doctors needed to tell the Kyles family something....

They didn't want a dime for the procedure. At this point, Rev. Kyles said, "And those doctors.. had teachers!"

Reverend Kyles says he didn't see his grandson's face until Quinn was about a year old. They kept it covered so he wouldn't catch anything.

The mother who gave her dying child's heart to Quinn kept in touch with the family. When Quinn was about three, he would play with the mother, as happy and active as any other three year old. At this point in the story, Rev. Kyles paused and said, "She would put her ear to Quinn's chest.. and listen to the heart of her little baby."

I cried like one right then. I wasn't embarrassed at all either. Just when I thought I didn't have a heart, it took a child who almost died because he needed one to show me I did.

LA Times, 1991: Full article about Quinn. He's 18 now, in his first year of college.