Candra Stiltner tragically lost her husband, Christopher Stiltner, in 2022 when he was just 20 years old. Christopher died in a single-vehicle accident while traveling with a pregnant Candra, who was in her second trimester, and their two young daughters.
At the time of the crash, Candra and their children survived the accident with minor injuries, thanks to Christopher, who “shielded” them during the impact. “Christopher was the best daddy; he always put his babies first,” Candra, now 26, told People.
The couple had met in school and built a life together over nine years. They welcomed their first daughter in 2018, when Christopher was just 16, and though he was young, he was determined to give his family the best life possible. Their second daughter arrived in 2020, and in late 2021, they discovered they were expecting a third child. Candra recalled that above all else, Christopher cherished being a father.
“He was kind, caring, and very respectful to anyone he had contact with,” she said, describing him. “He always loved to help others in any way he could.”
Despite the devastation, Christopher’s final act of generosity gave someone else a second chance at life—his heart was donated to a man in need of a life-saving transplant.
A few months before the fatal accident, Christopher made the thoughtful decision to register as an organ donor, demonstrating his desire to help others even in the face of tragedy.
After his death, his heart was donated to Dominique Wilson, a man battling cardiomyopathy—a heart condition that makes it difficult to pump blood effectively and can lead to shortness of breath, fatigue, and sudden cardiac arrest. Christopher’s heart ultimately gave Wilson a second chance at life.
It wasn’t until two years after the accident that Candra learned the identity of her husband’s heart recipient and decided to reach out.
“When I first found out about Dominique, all I wanted to do was make sure he was doing okay after the transplant and how his life was. I waited two years to meet him,” she revealed.
When Candra and Dominique finally connected, there was an immediate sense of familiarity, as if they had known each other their entire lives.
“It was the best day ever,” she recounted. “I finally felt like I could breathe, like Christopher was there.”
The reunion was even more special because Candra brought along all three of her children, including Vincent, her son born months after Christopher’s death.
A video showing Vincent, 3, spending time with Dominique, laughing and running with him, and connecting as if they had shared a bond for years, went viral, capturing the hearts of people across social media.
“Seeing Vincent and Dominique run around the park brought joy to my heart and made me feel like he found what he was always missing…time with his daddy,” Candra told People. “Christopher loved the playground; he was a kid at heart and when Dom was playing with him, it brought me so much happiness.”
“That day at the park, I smelt his cologne and it just made the experience of seeing Vincent and Dom together even more amazing,” she recalled. “Vincent felt that connection to Dom. He placed his little hand on his heart so I knew he knew his daddy was there.”
Since that initial meeting, Candra and Dominique have remained close, staying in touch every few days. She shares updates on the children, sends photos throughout the week, and checks in to ensure he and his family are doing well.
The connection between them now has grown into a bond that extends beyond the transplant itself—a living reminder of the love and generosity Christopher left behind.
Though the ache of losing her husband never fades, Candra finds comfort in the small, everyday ways she keeps his memory alive.
“I talk about him any chance I get,” she remarked.
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