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Anderson County family meets man saved by Jill Hurst's heart

Posted at 4:24 PM, Feb 23, 2020
and last updated 2020-02-25 10:18:41-05

ANDERSON COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — The family of an Anderson County teen who died in a car crash got to meet the man who's life was saved by their daughter's heart.

Eighteen-year-old Jill Hurst was killed while driving home from a football game back in September of 2019. She was registered as an organ donor.

As it turned out, Hurst's heart was a perfect match for a man in Florida who had been on the transplant list for months.

John Sugrim is a father of 3 who now gets to live a full life thanks to the transplant. He said it's a gift he doesn't take for granted.

"Before, you never thought about the simple things. Now, it's the biggest thing; don't sweat the big stuff. Just worry about now and deal with the now," said Sugrim.

The Hurst family said it was a blessing to get to meet Sugrim and to feel their daughter's heartbeat living on in another person.