Man saved stranger's life by donating half his liver - and now they're married

Whether a blind date, fate, or even a lucky Tinder swipe, every couple has their own unique story.

Heather Krueger and Chris Dempsey are no different, but their relationship began in a darker place than most – stage four liver cancer.

Heather was diagnosed in 2014 and aged just 25, she was told she only had months to live unless a suitable organ donor was found.

© Provided by The Press Association Heather and Chris in hospital (CBS Network/You Tube/Screenshot)

“I was told I had less than a 50% chance of living more than two months,” Heather told ABC. “It was traumatic.”

She explained how finding a living donor for a liver transplant is no easy task, especially when time is running out. But one day, a total stranger heard about her heartbreaking story.

Chris, a former US Marine, overheard one of his colleagues talking about a cousin who would die unless she got a liver transplant. He instantly decided to do everything he could to help her.

© Provided by The Press Association (CBS Evening News/You Tube/Screenshot)

Chris told CBS: “I spent four years in the Marine Corps and learned never to run away from anything. So I just said to myself, ‘hey, if I can help, I’m going to help’.”

Chris decided to get tested to see if he might be a potential match, and amazingly he was.

The pair, from Illinois, then agreed to meet to discuss the surgery, and the process of Chris giving Heather 55% of his liver. Chris also discussed hosting a fundraising event to help her with the medical fees.

As he later explained in an interview with American Today: “When I heard about her situation, I just put myself in that situation, thinking if this was one of my family members or me, I would want somebody to help me out.”

© Provided by The Press Association (CBS Evening News/YouTube/Screenshot)

“My mum was kind of nervous at first for me,” he continued. “Some people didn’t understand why I would do this for a stranger, but as time went on, people changed their tune and thought it was a cool thing I was doing.”

Shortly after meeting they were both admitted to the University of Illinois Hospital for the procedure in March 2015. The surgery took eight hours and went perfectly – but this was merely the beginning of their story.

“He had told me at the beginning of everything, ‘You owe me absolutely nothing for this. We can go our separate ways if that’s what you want,’” Heather explained. “It was kind of like, we do have this special bond, but is this just because I’m sick that I’m feeling this way? You had to kind of separate that, but after the surgery, I realised it went beyond that.”

The pair fell in love, got engaged last December and were married earlier this month. In Heather’s wedding vows, she said: “You are the most incredible man I have ever known, you believe in me and you make me feel amazing every single day. Because of you, I laugh, smile and I dare to dream again.”

See people, stay hopeful – movie love DOES exist!

© Provided by The Press Association Woman gets more than her life from liver transplant