Jacob’s father died waiting for an organ. So when time came, Jacob donated his organs.

At first there were no words, just tears and a deep embrace.

For when Jameszetta Taylor met Julie Lewis the first time, what could she say? How to express the gratitude that she had for the mother of the deceased man whose kidney was now hers?

And what could Lewis, who lost her youngest son at the age of 27, say to Taylor, the woman who embodied the greatest gift her son had ever given someone? She could only clutch her and breathe.

But once that moment passed, the two women, who it turns out live about six minutes from each other on the east side, couldn’t stop talking.

As the winter sun streamed through the windows at the Indiana Donor Network, they sat, chatted and laughed, often.

They talked about their grandchildren. They talked about places each had gone. Taylor and her sister make a big trip each year but had never visited Cape Cod, Lewis’ favorite place on Earth.

And Lewis, 58, told Taylor, 62, more about Jacob Paul, her son.

“You have a piece of my son, and he was good. He was a good son. He loved life,” she said to Taylor. “I wish you did know him.”

“He’s doing me well,” Taylor reassured her.

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