Heart Transplant Recipient Dreams of Donor and Accurately Locates Their Family

In her autobiography "A Change of Heart," Claire Sylvia, a 49-year-old woman from Hull, Massachusetts, shared that after receiving a heart transplant from a young boy, she astonishingly began to mirror his characteristics and developed a fondness for beer and KFC fried chicken.

Even more remarkably, despite U.S. organ transplant laws preventing the disclosure of donor identities to recipients, Claire claimed that in a dream, she "met" her 18-year-old heart donor, Tim Lamerand, and learned his name. With details from her dream, Claire successfully located the donor's family!

Undergoing Heart Surgery and Receiving a Boy's Heart

Claire Sylvia, a single mother and former professional dancer, was diagnosed in the late 1980s with primary pulmonary hypertension, a condition that threatened her life. She underwent a groundbreaking heart-lung transplant surgery in 1988 that saved her. Reports indicate she received the heart and lungs of an 18-year-old boy who died in a car accident. Although regulations prevented the revelation of her donor's true identity, it was known only that he was an 18-year-old who perished in a car crash.

Changed Interests: Craving Beer After Surgery

In the wake of her heart-lung transplant, Claire experienced "strange occurrences" that left her baffled. Two reporters interviewed her at the hospital, and when asked what she most wanted to do with her new lease on life, Claire surprisingly expressed a desire to drink beer. This response even shocked Claire, as she had never enjoyed beer before. Reflecting in her book "A Change of Heart," Claire considered, "Perhaps my organ donor—the young boy—was fond of beer, and this preference was passed on to me through the transplanted heart."

Loving Green Peppers and Fried Chicken: Adopting Masculine Traits

One month after being discharged from the hospital, Claire noticed she developed a taste for foods she previously disliked, such as green peppers and KFC fried chicken.

Moreover, Claire observed a shift towards more "masculine" traits in her personality. Before the transplant, she was eager to find a stable male partner, but post-surgery, that interest waned. Claire remarked, "I became more assertive, decisive, and confident. I also experienced fewer illnesses, and even my gait became more masculine."

Dreaming of the "Donor": Learning the Donor's Name

Incredibly, Claire dreamt of her "heart donor," although she had never been told his name.

Claire recounted, "In my dream, I stood on a green lawn with a young boy with light blonde hair. He introduced himself as Tim, maybe Tim Lamerand, but I wasn't certain, so I called him Tim L. When parting in the dream, it felt like there was unfinished business, so I went back to say goodbye and we kissed. I breathed deeply, drawing him into myself. Upon waking, I was convinced Tim L. was my heart donor, and his spirit had integrated with mine."

Checking Obituaries: Confirming His Name is Tim

Claire contacted the organ transplant coordinator, Gail Eddy, to verify if "Tim L." was indeed her donor's name, but Gail declined to answer.

Undeterred, Claire soon confirmed her heart donor was named "Tim L." With a friend's help, she searched obituaries from Boston-area papers during her transplant week and found a notice for 18-year-old Tim Lamerand, who died in a motorcycle accident.

Claire remembered, "The Tim from my dream was real. My knees went weak, and I sank into a chair. The obituary revealed Tim had five sisters and two brothers. Now I knew my donor's identity and that he had a family. It was all there: a name, an address, a small town."

Finding the "Donor's" Family: Their Astonishment

A few days later, Claire shared her findings with organ transplant coordinator Gail Eddy. "I asked Gail if a doctor might have mentioned Tim's name during surgery, and I remembered it subconsciously. Gail assured me doctors never learn donors' names."

Nine months on, Claire dreamt of "Tim" again and began corresponding with his family, who agreed to meet her. Claire recounted, "Tim's fourth sister, Annie, asked, 'How did you find us?'"

"Donor's" Family Confirms He Loved Green Peppers and Fried Chicken

When Claire shared her extraordinary dream with Tim, his family was astonished. Claire recalled, "Tim's sister, Carla, said, 'You're the only recipient of Tim's organs to contact us.' I later learned that Tim's family had donated not only his heart and lungs but also his corneas, kidneys, and liver."

Tim's family confirmed he enjoyed beer and rarely fell ill. When Claire asked about green peppers, his sister replied, "Yes, he loved them, but he truly adored fried chicken legs." Claire said, "I was stunned; it explained my sudden craving for KFC fried chicken."