A former West Virginia beauty queen who received a life-saving double lung transplant ended up marrying the brother of her organ donor, according to a report.
Jennifer Skaggs, now Jennifer Ellis, was born with situs inversus, a rare genetic condition that caused her organs to grow in reversed positions, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Due to chronic respiratory issues and nearly a year of hospitalizations, Ellis was referred to the Cleveland Clinic for further care in 2015. That same year, she was crowned Ms. West Virginia.
In 2019, Ellis received the call that lungs were available for her transplant operation. She then shared the news in a video saying, "It's definitely bittersweet because I know some beautiful young lady had to pass away in order for me to get my lungs. I don't know that I'll ever know who you are, but thank you."
Five years later, after extensive healing, Ellis connected with the family of her donor, Jill Ellis, after receiving a Christmas card from the family. From there, she stayed in touch with the family, who eventually traveled from Wisconsin to West Virginia to meet her. During that visit, Ellis met Jill's brother and an unexpected romance sparked.
"When I met Travis for the first time, I thought he was cute as could be," Ellis told the Cleveland Clinic. "But I never thought in a thousand years it would turn into anything. It wasn't even an option in my head because of the distance."
As the two grew closer, Travis moved to West Virginia to be near Jennifer and the Cleveland Clinic in case of followup care. By July 2023, he proposed. Exactly five years after Ellis' transplant on September 28, 2024 the two married.
"By becoming an organ donor, Jill saved six lives," Ellis said. "That to me makes her a hero, and who wouldn't want to do that? What better way to have your legacy live on."
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