Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Add Good to your Google News feed.
Google News Button

Bride honors late son at her wedding and is stunned by who shows up to fill his seat

A grieving mother left a seat open for her late son at her wedding—then a stranger with his heart walked in.

organ donation, bride honors son, heart recipient, emotional wedding, triston memorial, jacob heart transplant, love adventured, inspiring story, viral wedding, wedding surprise

Emotional wedding

Canva
GOOD Staff
By GOOD StaffMay 21, 2025
GOOD Staff
See Full Bio

When Becky lost her 19-year-old son Triston, the pain was immeasurable. But in the face of tragedy, there was one thread of hope: Triston's organs, including his heart, went on to save the lives of others.

Two years after his passing, Becky was preparing to marry her partner, Kelly. At the ceremony, they reserved a seat in Triston's memory. On that chair was a sign with a touching message:

"I'm in heaven for your wedding so what shall I do? I'll come down to earth to spend it with you. So save me a seat, just one empty chair. You may not see me but I will be there."

organ donation, bride honors son, heart recipient, emotional wedding, triston memorial, jacob heart transplant, love adventured, inspiring story, viral wedding, wedding surpriseBeautiful noteSource: Love Adventured

The tribute alone was enough to bring tears to the eyes of guests. But unbeknownst to Becky, her husband-to-be had planned something far more profound.

Just before the wedding began, Kelly told Becky someone had arrived that she needed to meet. That’s when Jacob, a 21-year-old man from San Diego, stepped forward. He had flown in just for the occasion—because Triston’s heart was beating in his chest.

"Overwhelmed with emotion, Becky broke down in tears as she listened to her late son's heartbeat with a stethoscope."

The moment was raw and beautiful. Becky leapt with joy as she embraced Jacob, surrounded by guests who wiped their own eyes. It was a reunion of sorts—between a mother and the life her son left behind.

organ donation, bride honors son, heart recipient, emotional wedding, triston memorial, jacob heart transplant, love adventured, inspiring story, viral wedding, wedding surpriseHe was there in more than spiritSource: Love Adventured

Photos and video from the wedding soon spread across Facebook, and the story moved thousands. One commenter, Judith Cleek, wrote, "This says so much about her new husband. What a marvelous show of caring and love, so touching and heartwarming."

Another user, Helen Burnett, added, "This is such a beautiful thing... A selfless act of love... Shows us all things are possible... God bless this family."


organ donation, bride honors son, heart recipient, emotional wedding, triston memorial, jacob heart transplant, love adventured, inspiring story, viral wedding, wedding surpriseA beautiful wedding dayCanva

Tara Sorensen shared a sentiment that resonated with many: "Why can't we just have one news channel that is dedicated to sharing positive, inspiring stories like this? There is so much kindness and good in the world that could invoke the same if only it was shared."

"Why can't we just have one news channel that is dedicated to sharing positive, inspiring stories like this?"

For Becky and Kelly, the wedding was not only a celebration of love but a powerful reminder that Triston’s legacy still lives on. His heart may have stopped beating in his own body, but its rhythm carried on—echoing through the life of another, and through one unforgettable moment that no one in that ceremony will ever forget.

This article originally appeared eight years ago.

bride honors sonemotional weddingheart recipientinspiring storyjacob heart transplantlove adventuredorgan donationtriston memorialviral weddingwedding surprisepast events

The Latest

old people, happiness, unexpected things, good, joy, mental health, experience, wisdom

20 unexpected and simple things older people say bring them happiness

Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, WOMAD, 1982 reunion, Six of the Best, progressive rock, Steve Hackett, music history, Tony Banks
Past Events

The unbelievable 1982 Genesis reunion with Peter Gabriel was to save him from crushing debt

psychological tricks, social hacks, Reddit, communication, social anxiety, persuasion, de-escalation, body language, conversation tips, bystander effect
Past Events

15 'psychological tricks' that can help you 'win' in almost every social situation

animal welfare, dog reunion, animal shelter, dog parents, fundraisers
Good People

She surrendered her dog but wrote the shelter every day. Community rallied to help them reunite.

More For You

Robin Williams, quotes, depression, mental health, Good Will Hunting, Dead Poets Society, loneliness, suicide prevention, World's Greatest Dad, inspiration

Robin Williams performs at the 2008 USO World Gala in Washington, D.C.

Chad J. McNeeley, U.S. Navy via Wikimedia Commons

7 beautiful quotes about depression from the great Robin Williams

It has been over a decade since the world lost Robin Williams, a comedic force of nature whose energy seemed inexhaustible. When he took his own life in 2014 after battles with depression and Lewy body dementia, the silence that followed was deafening. How could the man who brought us the Genie, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Mork be in such pain?

But looking back at his vast body of work—from his frantic stand-up sets to his tender dramatic roles—it is clear that Williams possessed a profound understanding of the human condition. He didn't just make us laugh; he made us feel seen, especially those of us who have struggled with our own darkness.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kola Superdeep Borehole, deepest hole on Earth, Russia, geology, drilling, Mariana Trench, sounds of hell, Earth's crust, science mystery, China drilling

A large hole in the ground

Canva

Terrifying sounds captured from below the Earth as scientists were digging the deepest hole ever

It remains one of the most ambitious—and eerie—scientific projects in human history. While space agencies were racing to the moon, Soviet scientists were racing in the opposite direction: straight down.

The project, known as the Kola Superdeep Borehole SG-3, began in 1970 in the Pechengsky District of Russia, near the Norwegian border. The goal was simple yet massive: drill as deep into the Earth’s crust as technology would allow. By 1989, they had reached a staggering depth of 12,262 meters (40,230 feet).

Keep ReadingShow less
xenobots, third state, cellular consciousness, anthrobots, Alex Pozhitkov, Peter Noble, life after death, medical breakthroughs, biobots, evolution

(L) The sun shines through some clouds; (R) A tag on the toes of a cadaver

Canva

Scientists may have found a 'third state' of existence that begins right after death

Since the beginning of philosophy, humanity has agreed on one biological certainty: there is life, and there is death. But a groundbreaking study is challenging that framework, arguing that after an organism's death, certain cells enter a mysterious "third state" of existence.

In September 2024, Alex Pozhitkov, Ph.D., a bioinformatics researcher at the City of Hope Cancer Center, and Peter Noble, Ph.D., a microbiologist from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, analyzed new multicellular organisms designed by A.I. known as “xenobots” and noticed they acted with autonomy, forming new roles for themselves beyond their predetermined function within a body. Since these xenobot cells appear to reassemble and reorganize into new forms and functions upon a body’s death, Pozhitkov and Noble argue that these cells create a “third state” of life, according to Yahoo.

Keep ReadingShow less
thrift store find, hidden money, goodwill treasure, coach purse, viral tiktok, heartwarming story, pay it forward, kindness, emotional note, secondhand shopping

Woman looks in mirror at thrift store

Canva

She found a bunch of cash in a thrift-store purse along with a stunning handwritten note

Whether it was luck or pure chance, sometimes the most unexpected things happen. Lynora (@marthainfused) shared a surprising experience from a recent shopping trip, as reported by The Independent. While thrifting at Goodwill, she stumbled upon a Coach bag in decent condition—and for a steal of a price.

“Got this coach bag at Goodwill. I paid $6.99 for it,” the woman mentioned, adding, “Wait till you find out what’s inside.”

Keep ReadingShow less
independent contractor, Caleb, @BirdRespecter, toxic workplace, Great Resignation, text exchange, worker's rights, contracts, Bored Panda, The Guardian

Man lies in bed texting with overlay of screenshot of the exchange

Image of man via Canva; screenshot via Reddit

'Please call me': A boss's attempt to 'fire' a contract worker backfires spectacularly

The ongoing cultural pushback against toxic work environments has given rise to some legendary stories of workers standing up for themselves. One of the most famous examples comes from an independent contractor named Caleb, whose viral text exchange with a "boss" is a masterclass in knowing your worth—and your contract.

Caleb, a freelancer, posted the exchange on Twitter (now X), where it was later picked up by Bored Panda and Reddit. "Being an independent contractor sucks for a lot of reasons, but it also affords you the unique ability to tell people to f*ck off in delightful ways," he captioned the tweet.

Keep ReadingShow less
malicious compliance, retail rules, workplace policy, clocking out, HR audit, payroll flag, customer service, unfair management, timecards, workplace justice, procedural fairness, employee rights, register duty, retail manager, company policy, Bored Panda, Reddit story, upvotes, workplace humor, common sense

Behold the tyranny of the time card.

Photo credit: Canva

Boss demands worker 'clock out' every time she's not at the desk, she made him eat his words

A Reddit user, u/CommercialAlarming13, shared a story that perfectly captures what happens when management forgets common sense. The September 1 post, which gained 55,000 upvotes on Reddit, has since been deleted but reshared on Bored Panda, where it struck a chord with readers who have dealt with unreasonable workplace rules. The employee explained that they worked retail under a manager who thought "customer service" meant staying chained to the register. When the boss complained they were leaving the till too often — whether to grab change, restock bags, or even take out the trash — he introduced a new rule, "If you step away from the register, even for a second, you must clock out."

When “stay at the register” goes wrong

workplace justice, procedural fairness, employee rights, register duty, retail manager, company policy "I'm watching you..." Photo credit: Canva

Keep ReadingShow less
color test, Lenstore, color perception, visual test, tricky test, online challenge, color blindness, Israel Abramov, men vs women, age

A spectrum of various colors

Canva

This 'impossible' 10-question color test is so tough that only 1 percent of people can ace it

A deceptively simple online challenge is making the rounds online, and it's proving to be nearly impossible for most people. The 10-question color test, created by UK-based eye care company Lenstore, seems easy: just distinguish between different hues and place them in the correct order on the spectrum.

The reality? It's incredibly difficult. According to Lenstore, less than 1% of the first 2,000 people who took the challenge managed to score a perfect 10/10.

Keep ReadingShow less
Barack Obama, Sophia Bailey-Klugh, LGBTQ, marriage equality, bullying, two dads, presidential letter, good news, compassion, parenting

(L) A child's handwritten letter to President Obama; (R) Barack Obama in 2025

(L-R) Reddit and Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Vanessa White via Wikimedia Commons

Barack Obama wrote a beautiful letter to a 10-year-old girl being bullied for having gay parents

In 2012, three years before the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, the "marriage debate" was a deeply personal and often painful issue for families across the country. It was during this time that 10-year-old Sophia Bailey-Klugh was facing cruel taunts from classmates for having two fathers. Instead of suffering in silence, she decided to write a letter asking for advice from her hero: President Barack Obama.

'It Really Hurts My Heart and Feelings'

Her letter was a mix of childhood honesty and a direct plea for advice from her hero.

Keep ReadingShow less
© Copyright 2025