Heart transplant recipient weds with donar’s dad by his side

WITH the heart of his guardian angel pounding in his chest, Kostas Gribilas married the love of his life yesterday. Standing by his side was Oliver Zammit, the man friends describe as Kostas’ second father.
It was a wedding made possible by the generosity of Mr Zammit’s courageous son Doujon.
The 20-year-old Sydney tourist died last year when he was bashed by at least four men while holidaying on the Greek island of Mykonos.
Kostas, who in mid-2008 was close to death when an implanted mechanical heart began to fail, was saved by the last-minute transplant of Doujon’s heart.
In a touching display of gratitude, Kostas and his long-term partner Poppy walked down the aisle at St Stephanos Greek Orthodox Church with Doujon’s father Oliver as his best man.
About 100 friends and family of Kostas, Poppy and Doujon were at the Hurlstone Park ceremony.
The crowd cheered and clapped as Kostas and Poppy walked down the steps of the church following an hour-long ceremony led by Father Nicholas Bozikis
It was a day of mixed emotions as the gathering celebrated Kostas’ marriage while acknowledging Doujon’s sacrifice.
Friends of Kostas said the Australian-born newlywed, who met his wife Poppy in Sydney in 2006 before the couple returned to live in Athens, had been given a second chance in life.
They said Kostas and Doujon’s father had become extremely close since the heart transplant in August 2008.

“Kostas considers him as a second father really,” friend Fiona Lawandos said.
“They were not blood relations, but they have become father and son. It’s Kostas’ second family now.
“I’m pretty sure that at the reception there will be a lot of remembering of Doujon.”
Doujon suffered fatal injuries when he was bashed while holidaying on the Greek island of Mykonos in July last year.
Following his explicit wishes, Oliver Zammit and his wife Rosemarie donated his organs for transplant donation.
(Source: The Daily Telegraph)