Sharing A Heart of Gold

Rita Cox

Editor

People that knew her, always said Linda Horner had a heart of gold. When her heart failed, almost two decades ago, another heart was gold given to her. Linda passed away November, 27. Her obituary is on page A8 of the Nov. 6 print and printed paper online editions.

Sherry Holsapple, 28, was in a horrific car crash, witnessed by her own mother, Dee, on March 6, 2001. The family had to make a decision. Per Sherry’s wishes, her family donated her organs.
Linda Horner, who had been on a heart transplant list, received the call in the middle of the night on March 8, 2001, that a heart was waiting for her. Linda also knew the call meant that somewhere a family was grieving the loss of a loved one, and Linda prayed for that family. Linda and Ronnie Horner rushed to Blessing Hospital in Quincy and Linda was put on an Air Evac helicopter for her trip to Barnes Hospital for the transplant operation. As they approached St. Louis, a duck collided with the helicopter and landed on Linda’s chest. She cradled the bird and held it while the pilot struggled to land the air craft safely. The helicopter landed and the transplant operation was a success. At the time, heart transplant patients had a life expectancy of ten years. Linda lived almost 18 more years after her operation. The duck was presented to Linda a few months after her transplant, preserved with its head going through plexiglass, just like the helicopter crash. The bird is now in Richard Horner’s Shelter insurance office in Canton and has become a symbol for his family of the life that was lost and the gift of life for his mother his mother received

An article about the two families and how their lives connected appeared in the St. Louis Post Dispatch in May of 2002 and is printed with their permission on page A3 of the print and online editions.

Dee Holsapple, after saying her last goodbyes to her beloved daughter, was leaving the room heard about the duck crash. She told her husband, Gary, that person is getting Sherry’s heart. She was sure it was a sign from Sherry and that gave her some comfort. Dee and Sherry had a special bond, and the morning of the accident, Sherry had told her mother, “I’m still your baby duck.” A reference to something from her childhood. Dee also said that months before Sherry had told her to make sure her kids get her life insurance to be taken care of, and that she would not live to see her 30th birthday. The remark bothered Dee, but life went on. Sherry had another baby and Dee was helping with the kids. Life was busy and blessed. The accident changed everything. After her daughter died, Dee grieved, but had to be strong for the children. She and her husband, Gary, now had Sherry’s six month old daughter to care for. Dee said Sherry had enough breast milk stocked up and frozen to last for three more months, Sherry was still making sure her daughter was taken care of. Dee said her faith got her through the tough times and her faith is still strong. Then Gary, who worked at the hospital, was assigned to Linda’s room when it was time for a check up. He met Linda and then saw his daughter’s heart still beating. An emotional moment, made easier by Linda’s compassion and character. Linda Horner called Dee and the two women met and bonded and began their nearly two decades long friendship.
Dee said the similarities between the two women were remarkable, not only the duck story, but other things. They both had blonde hair and blue eyes. They both had three boys, Both mothers would tell their children, “ I love you a bushel and peck and a hug around the neck.” They both sang, You Are My Sunshine” to their kids. They were both strong caring women. Both had lots of friends, both women made people happy. Both had a strong trust in God. Knowing that Sherry’s heart went to a Christian lady, made Dee feel blessed and her daughter’s spirit lived on.

After the meeting with Linda Horner, Dee said the Horner’s became a part of their family. Linda and Ron told the kids to call them Grandpa and Grandma. The Horner’s bought Christmas presents for Sherry’s children. The Holsapple family gave the Horner’s gifts. Linda Horner told her story over and over and convinced people to become organ donors. Dee Holsapple’s family all signed up as organ donors. It gave Dee comfort that Sherry’s donation saved four lives and hopes that anyone who reads the stories will consider organ donation. Linda and Dee both became advocates for organ donations and encouraged people to think about gift of life.

The bond between the two families, continued. Linda could feel something might be wrong and call up Dee to see if someone was sick or hurt. Dee would somehow sense something was going on with Linda and call her. Dee said that Linda never told her she was sick. Linda would always say, “I’m going to bounce back.” Linda knew if something happened to her, the Holsapple family would be grieving again. So she always was cheerful in her talks to Dee, but the last few weeks, Dee kept feeling something was up. Linda’s son, Richard Horner, begin to text and call Dee and kept her updated with his mother’s condition. The heart wasn’t the problem, Linda began having other medical issues. Last week Dee had a terrible headache, one of the worst headaches she had ever had. She felt something was wrong, not with her but with Linda. Later, she got the call from Richard Horner, Linda was gone. Dee said her headache stopped at that moment.

Richard Horner said when his mom passed, Dee was one of the first people he called. The Horner family knew that Sherry’s family would be grieving again. Horner said, “There are just no words to express how our lives have touched each other and we were so grateful for the gift of life that our mother received.”

Dee and Gary Holsapple and Sherry’s children attended the services for Linda Horner. They sat right behind the Horner family. Dee said she touched Linda and then laid her hand on Linda’s chest to say goodbye to her daughter’s heart. When they left the church after the funeral, a double rainbow appeared in the sky. Dee knows that was the sign to show her Linda and Sherry were together rejoicing in Heaven and talking about their shared heart. A heart of gold.