Transplant recipient honors donor by jumping from plane

[insyder]

I thought this was a cool story, and this 70year old grandpa rocks!

Bob Jennings, a Sacramento grandfather and heart transplant recipient, on Friday jumped out of an airplane to celebrate an upcoming birthday and to honor the 22-year-old woman, an avid skydiver, whose organ donation upon death saved his life.

"I was trying to think of something out of character for me to do for my 70th birthday," said Jennings, whose birthday is Sunday. "I came up with skydiving... It seems appropriate in remembrance of what Elizabeth gave me."

In 1995, Jennings was diagnosed with viral cardiomyopathy, a virus that weakens the heart. He had only a few weeks to live when he received a heart transplant on May 16, 1996.

The donor was Elizabeth Polyniak, who on Mother's Day was on her way home to San Jose from a skydive when she was in a fatal car crash. Polyniak worked at a skydive business in Hollister and loved the sport, according to her mother, Kris Elliot.

"What a thrill!" Jennings said after he and his tandem instructor landed Friday afternoon near SkyDance Skydiving in Davis.

April is Donate Life California month, intended to raise awareness of organ donation.

 

[yelow748]

Go grandpa :thumbup

 

[auntiebling]

i think i've been in the sink too long. i read the title and assumed this was about some guy that committed suicide.

excellent tribute for sure. :teeth

 

[Cycle61]

What if the donor had died in a skydiving accident?

 

[Mike T]

saw that on the AOL news thingy....:thumbup for honoring that person that way....

 

[elbacalao]

That's very cool.

 

[Dr. Evil]

i think i've been in the sink too long. i read the title and assumed this was about some guy that committed suicide.

This. Perhaps the OP should make it clear that the old codger was wearing a parachute when he did this...

 

[Godsdarling]

Awesome. I bet the mother was touched. Second chance at life and he is going to live it to the fullest. :thumbup

 

[n10sive]

carrying a borrowed heart in his bucket list. cool