"Now every family member will always be able to hear that heartbeat any time. Maybe they feel lonely, or sad, or when looking at his picture, they'll be able to put in their headphones and listen."
The family of Bob Betcher’s heart donor never thought they’d hear their son’s heartbeat again.
Three months after their unimaginable loss, the donor’s mother placed the stethoscope to her ears. Tears streamed as she heard the steady, rhythmic sound of her son's heart beating once more — now in Bob's chest. The donor’s father listened next, his hand resting on Bob’s shoulder. No words were exchanged, but none were needed.
The Eko CORE 500™ Digital Stethoscope wasn’t just a tool that day. It was a bridge — connecting two families through a heart that continues to beat.
Decades of heart complications
A Division I college lacrosse coach brimming with energy and passion, Bob never imagined that, at just 26 years old, his vibrant life would face a shattering blow. What started as flu-like symptoms soon revealed a battle he’d fight for decades: ventricular tachycardia, an enlarged heart, and atrial fibrillation — a devastating precursor to congestive heart failure.
“This was all foreign to me,” Bob admitted. “When you’re young, you think you’re invincible.”
Over the next 30 years, Bob endured countless procedures, but his heart continued to weaken. When his doctor laid out two paths — a heart transplant or hospice — Bob was faced with the reality that his survival would come at the cost of someone else’s loss.
An emotional new beginning
That bittersweet and life-altering call came on May 9, 2023. But it was more than just a surgery date for Bob. “It’s not just the day I got a new heart,” he shared. “It’s the day I was reborn.”
The journey of recovery after his transplant wasn’t just about physical healing. Bob found himself thinking often of his donor and their grieving family.
On August 9, just days before what would have been his donor’s birthday, Bob was able to meet the family in person. In a gathering filled with nervous anticipation and overwhelming gratitude, Bob shared not just his thanks, but something far more meaningful.
With the CORE 500™, Bob brought their son's heartbeat back into their lives.
And through the Eko App they didn’t just hear it — they saw its rhythmic pulse on the screen, transforming sound into something tangible and unforgettable. It was a moment that went beyond technology.
"I don't think a conventional, archaic stethoscope would’ve done the job or made the impact for them to listen to their son's heart now beating inside of me."
A heartbeat brings healing
For the donor’s family, hearing and seeing their son’s heart provided solace in their grief.
“I knew how incredibly, incredibly difficult it was for all of them — the cousins, the sisters, parents, the aunts, the uncles,” Bob said. “I don't think a conventional, archaic stethoscope would’ve done the job or made the impact for them to listen to their son's heart now beating inside of me.”
Bob used the Eko App to show the family a live waveform of his heart, on his phone screen, in real time. The donor’s parents watched in awe, knowing that each pulse reflected their son's heart beating strongly in Bob's chest.
He also used the Eko App to record his heartbeat, ensuring that every family member could revisit that sound whenever they needed comfort.
“Now every family member will always be able to hear that heartbeat any time,” Bob shared. “Maybe they feel lonely, or sad, or when looking at his picture, they'll be able to put in their headphones and listen.”
A new birthday
Every heartbeat reminds Bob of the precious gift he was given from his donor.
“I don't think there's a day that I don't wake up and thank him, and I don't go to bed without thanking him,” Bob reflected. “I couldn't be happier to have a healthier, better existence for me and for my family.”
May 9 will forever be more than a surgery date for Bob. It’s his new birthday — a celebration of life, gratitude, and the heartbeat that carries two families forward.
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