Ten years after her brother died, teen danced with woman who received his heart

BENAVIDES, Tx. — A Texas teenager got an extra special gift for her 15th birthday.

Family and friends gathered in Benavides for Monique Salinas’ quincienera, but a special guest made all the difference.

Monique's brother, Mikey, was killed in a car accident 10 years ago. At the same time, Aubrey Reeves, from Wichita Falls, suffered from a rare congenital heart disease, according to KVUE.

Her body had rejected two previous transplants, and the odds of her finding a match were slim. Turns out, Mikey’s heart and kidney were a perfect match. Reeves is alive today because of those transplants 10 years ago.

So for Monique’s birthday celebration, the family asked Aubrey to join them at the front of the room. She shared a dance with Monique, and the family was able to hear Mikey’s heart beating for the first time in ten years.

Cox Media Group