Unexpected friendship grows out of a tragic death

Heart transplant patient connects with family of his young donor

By Franny White July 01, 2021 Spokane, WA

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Heart transplant grows unexpected friendship

Organ donor Jacob Ash saved four lives and two peoples sight, and healed many more. Ash choked on a piece of hard candy on Sept. 29, 2020, at the age of 31, in Spokane, Washington. (Photo courtesy of David Ash)

Heart transplant grows unexpected friendship

Nolan Stamm keeps images of his close friend and former roommate Jacob Ash, on display in his home on June 26, 2021, in Spokane, Washington. Ash died after choking on a piece of hard candy on Sept. 29, 2020. His heart, liver and tissue, as well as both of his cornea and kidneys, were donated to people needing organ transplants. Ash would have turned 32 on June 27, 2021. (OHSU/ Tyler Tjomsland)

OHSU/ Tyler Tjomsland

Heart transplant grows unexpected friendship

Duane Richards, 55, left, of Corbett, Oregon, an Oregon Health & Science University heart transplant patient, helps Danielle Hillman, right, the mother of his heart donor, Jacob Ash, listen to the heart her son donated for the first time on June 26, 2021, at Ash's former home in Spokane, Washington. Ash died after choking on a piece of hard candy on Sept. 29, 2020. His heart, liver and tissue, as well as both of his cornea and kidneys, were donated to people needing organ transplants. Ash would have turned 32 on June 27, 2021. (OHSU/ Tyler Tjomsland)

OHSU/ Tyler Tjomsland

Heart transplant grows unexpected friendship

Duane Richards, who underwent a heart transplant at Oregon Health & Science University on Oct. 4, 2020, has several similarities with his heart donor, Jacob Jake Ash, including being active outdoors enthusiasts, having beards and being kind. (Photo courtesy of Michelle Richards)

Heart transplant grows unexpected friendship

Duane Richards, 55, of Corbett, Oregon, an Oregon Health & Science University heart transplant patient, wears a #justforjake bracelet as he shows the scar from his surgery to the family of his heart donor, Jacob Ash, for the first time on June 26, 2021, in Spokane, Wash. Ash died after choking on a piece of hard candy on Sept. 29, 2020. His heart, liver and tissue, as well as both of his cornea and kidneys, were donated to people needing organ transplants. Ash would have turned 32 on June 27, 2021. (OHSU/ Tyler Tjomsland)

OHSU/ Tyler Tjomsland

Heart transplant grows unexpected friendship

Duane Richards, left, and his wife, Michelle Richards, visited Yosemite National Park in California in March 2021, just months after undergoing a heart transplant at Oregon Health & Science University on Oct. 4, 2020. (Photo courtesy of Michelle Richards)

Heart transplant grows unexpected friendship

Duane Richards, 55, of Corbett, Oregon, an Oregon Health & Science University heart transplant patient, reacts as meets the family of his heart donor, Jacob Ash, for the first time on June 26, 2021, in Spokane, Washington. Ash died after choking on a piece of hard candy on Sept. 29, 2020. His heart, liver and tissue, as well as both of his cornea and kidneys, were donated to people needing organ transplants. Ash would have turned 32 on June 27, 2021. (OHSU/ Tyler Tjomsland)

OHSU/ Tyler Tjomsland

Heart transplant grows unexpected friendship

Duane Richards, 55, left, of Corbett, Oregon, an OHSU heart transplant patient, reacts with his wife Michelle Richards, after Danielle Hillman, far right, Jacob Ash's mother, Michelle Sequeira, second right, Hillman's sister, and Shelby Aguirre, Ash's sister, after they listen to the heart Richards received from donor Jacob Ash on June 26, 2021, in Spokane, Washington. Ash died after choking on a piece of hard candy on Sept. 29, 2020. His heart, liver and tissue, as well as both of his cornea and kidneys, were donated to people needing organ transplants. Ash would have turned 32 on June 27, 2021. (OHSU/ Tyler Tjomsland)

OHSU/ Tyler Tjomsland

Heart transplant grows unexpected friendship

Michelle Richards, right, wife of Duane Richards, left, 55, of Corbett, Oregon, an Oregon Health & Science University heart transplant patient, embraces Nolan Stamm, far right, the former roommate and close friend of his heart donor, Jacob Ash, as they meet for the first time on June 26, 2021, at Ash's former home in Spokane, Washington. Ash died after choking on a piece of hard candy on Sept. 29, 2020. His heart, liver and tissue, as well as both of his cornea and kidneys, were donated to people needing organ transplants. Ash would have turned 32 on June 27, 2021. (OHSU/ Tyler Tjomsland)

OHSU/ Tyler Tjomsland

Heart transplant grows unexpected friendship

Shelby Aguirre, sister of heart donor, Jacob Ash, shows off two of her tattoos as she meets for the first time Duane Richards, 55, of Corbett, Oregon, an Oregon Health & Science University heart transplant patient who received her brother's heart on June 26, 2021, in Spokane, Washington. Ash died after choking on a piece of hard candy on Sept. 29, 2020. His heart, liver and tissue, as well as both of his cornea and kidneys, were donated to people needing organ transplants. Ash would have turned 32 on June 27, 2021. (OHSU/ Tyler Tjomsland)

OHSU/ Tyler Tjomsland

Heart transplant grows unexpected friendship

Duane Richards, 55, left, of Corbett, Oregon, an Oregon Health & Science University heart transplant patient finds his heartbeat with a stethoscope as meets the family of his heart donor, Jacob Ash, including Danielle Hillman, center, Jacob Ash's mother, and Shelby Aguirre, right, Jacob Ash's sister, for the first time on June 26, 2021, at Ash's former home in Spokane, Washington. Ash died after choking on a piece of hard candy on Sept. 29, 2020. His heart, liver and tissue, as well as both of his cornea and kidneys, were donated to people needing organ transplants. Ash would have turned 32 on June 27, 2021. (OHSU/ Tyler Tjomsland)

OHSU/ Tyler Tjomsland

Heart transplant grows unexpected friendship

Danielle Hillman, right, embraces her sister, Michelle Sequeira, as her daughter Shelby Aguirre, left, reacts, after the used a stethoscope to hear Hillman's son Jake Ash's heart beating in an Oregon Health & Science University heart transplant patient, Duane Richards on June 26, 2021, in Spokane, Washington. Ash died after choking on a piece of hard candy on Sept. 29, 2020. His heart, liver and tissue, as well as both of his cornea and kidneys, were donated to people needing organ transplants. Ash would have turned 32 on June 27, 2021. (OHSU/ Tyler Tjomsland)

OHSU/ Tyler Tjomsland

Heart transplant grows unexpected friendship

Duane Richards, 55, left, of Corbett, Oregon, an Oregon Health & Science University heart transplant patient, helps Shelby Aguirre, right, the sister of his heart donor, Jacob Ash, listen to the heart her brother donated for the first time on June 26, 2021, at Ash's former home in Spokane, Washington. Ash died after choking on a piece of hard candy on Sept. 29, 2020. His heart, liver and tissue, as well as both of his cornea and kidneys, were donated to people needing organ transplants. Ash would have turned 32 on June 27, 2021. (OHSU/ Tyler Tjomsland)

OHSU/ Tyler Tjomsland

Heart transplant grows unexpected friendship

Chantil Aquierre, left, Jake Ash's sister, Danielle Hillman, Jake Ash's mother, and Michelle Sequeira, Hillman's sister, react as Duane Richards helps Shelby Aguirre, the sister of his heart donor, Jacob Ash, listen to the heart Ash donated for the first time on June 26, 2021, at Ash's former home in Spokane, Washington. Ash died after choking on a piece of hard candy on Sept. 29, 2020. His heart, liver and tissue, as well as both of his cornea and kidneys, were donated to people needing organ transplants. Ash would have turned 32 on June 27, 2021. (OHSU/ Tyler Tjomsland)

OHSU/ Tyler Tjomsland

Heart transplant grows unexpected friendship

Duane Richards, 55, of Corbett, Oregon, an Oregon Health & Science University heart transplant patient, tears up as he meets the family of his heart donor, Jacob Ash, for the first time on June 26, 2021, in Spokane, Washington. Ash died after choking on a piece of hard candy on Sept. 29, 2020. His heart, liver and tissue, as well as both of his cornea and kidneys, were donated to people needing organ transplants. Ash would have turned 32 on June 27, 2021. (OHSU/ Tyler Tjomsland)

OHSU/ Tyler Tjomsland