Heart of Former NY Jet Saves the Life of Baseball Legend Rod Carew

Major League Hall of Famer Rod Carew needed help. A lot of help.

The 71 year-old  Carew need a heart and kidney transplant after suffering a massive heart attack as he played golf on September 15, 2015.

Carew only survived with the help of a Left Ventricular Assist Device, According to the OC Register, he was placed on the heart transplant list in November of that year.

In December 2016, Carew was told he would could get the transplant he needed to survive. His new heart would come from come from quite the unexpected source.

Just a few days before, former New York Jet Konrad Reuland died of a brain aneurysm, after running on a treadmill, at the age of 29. Growing up in Ohio, Reuland was a huge fan of Carew when he played for the Minnesota Twins. he got to meet his idol at the age of 11, according to the NY Daily News. 

Rueland was an organ donor. His family said they were told his heart went to a 71 year-old man living in Orange County, CA.

This is when people began piecing the story together. Rueland's mother was told that her son may have saved the life of his hero. Mary Rueland then reached out to to Carew's wife.

After a few back and forth messages, the two finally talked. It was confirmed. Konrad's heart beat in Rod Carew's chest.

this has obviously drawn the two families together.