Chris Dempsey is a Shining Example of Selflessness

In 2014, doctors told 25 year old Heather Krueger that she had only a few months to live. Diagnosed with stage 4 liver disease, her only hope was a matching donor liver which could take months or even years to find, time she did not have. So many people tested themselves and came back negative as a match. Heather needed a miracle.

That miracle was an ex-marine who, having heard of her plight, got himself tested and then offered his own liver to her even though he had never met her. As if giving away a vital organ was not enough, Chris Dempsey also organized a fund raiser to pay for her medical bills.
In March 2015, the 8 hour surgery took place successfully. Heather survived and healed slowly but surely.

Chris and Heather, after the surgery (2015)

In attempting to find her in 2017, I encountered some difficulties as she now goes by the name of Heather Dempsey. (Why does that surname sound so familiar, Watson?)

Oh, right! I forgot to tell you that part, didn't I?

Before the surgery, Chris Dempsey had assured her that she owed him nothing and they could go their separate ways once they had recovered. Boy, did Chris get that one wrong!

In a real-life story for the ages (that seriously needs a Bollywood movie version!), the two fell in love during the course of their recovery, slowly gathering the courage to admit their feelings for one another. Fittingly, considering the fairy-tale script of it all, the knight in shining armour proposed to the radiant princess after a romantic night that included a carriage ride.

In 2016, Chris and Heather were married.

I got in touch with Heather last month and so will allow her to talk for the rest of this post.

Q. This March marked two successful years since the operation. Congratulations on that. How are you feeling now?

Heather: I am feeling pretty good now. I am on anti-rejection medicine which I will be on for the rest of my life. The doctors have reduced that quite a bit though since my blood work has been stable. I wish I had more energy than I do but I am so happy that I am progressing so well.

Q. I read that both of you were hesitant to reveal your feelings as they developed initially, because of the circumstances. You may not know this but that's usually the plot of many a Bollywood movie - the reveal! So who finally made the first move and how did the other react?

Heather: Haha! Yes, I wasn't sure if my feelings were true or if I was just so happy that I finally got a donor! After spending some more time with Chris before the surgery, I started to have more feelings for him and realized that this was someone I could see myself with. One night when he was over at my house, we were watching a movie together. I wanted him to make the first move but couldn't wait haha! I leaned in and gave him a kiss on the lips and he kissed back. Of course, we both felt then that this was going to lead to a possible boyfriend/girlfriend relationship.

Q. Could you share with us a little bit more about the moments from your love story that make you smile even today.

Heather: When we were recovering in the intensive care unit, I would walk down to his room (which was 3 rooms down from mine) and we would walk together around the nurses station to try to increase our lung capacity. It's funny now when we have gone back to visit the nurses they joke and say 'we knew something was going on with you guys!' They are very happy for us as well.

One of the things I still laugh at today is when my dad walked into my room and was red in the face and laughing hard. I asked what was so funny and he said Chris's mom tripped on his catheter!! I started laughing and I was holding my stomach as I was still in a lot of pain. Chris was most nervous about the catheter and his mom was hovering over him. As she went to back off a bit, she tripped on the catheter. Thankfully, it wasn't pulled out, only tugged on. Chris and I still laugh at that today and I make fun of him about it.

And he has the biggest sweet tooth ever! Chris lost about 30 pounds after the surgery so when he did go back to work he would buy doughnuts every morning in order to gain some weight back. 

Q. We know the gesture of selflessness of your husband and your love story that brought you both into the limelight. Could you share with us a little bit more about the Chris you know now?

Heather: Chris has such a great sense of humor, loves our two dogs that sleep with us in bed, and I find it so cute that he will watch Lifetime movies with me! He is also very close with my family which I love because I have always been very close with my family and we all live near one another.

Heather & Chris Dempsey in 2017

Why I want you to remember Chris Dempsey 

Chris and Heather for me is the kind of story that restores faith in so many things - humanity, selflessness, love, soulmates, serendipity, karma, fairy-tales and happily ever afters. Unlike in earlier posts, I am not going to give my opinion here.
Why would I when Heather is right here to speak about him?

Chris is my best friend and my guardian angel. I am forever grateful for what he did for me and it's still hard to believe that I went from my death bed to falling in love. He has helped me learn to love again,persevere when life gets hard and given me a second chance at life. I feel we can get through anything in life together and he is such a great husband. I appreciate everything he does and I look forward to the future and our continued good health.

- Heather Dempsey

Not had enough of this magical love story? Want more of Chris & Heather, you say?
You want to see their wedding and hear her wedding vows too, you say?
Greedy little munchkin, ain't ya? Well, here you go!

This is part of my #AtoZChallenge where I will be focusing on Real Life Heroes: Shining Examples of Kindness and Compassion. You can find other real-life heroes here.