Heart Transplant Brings Two Families Together In OKC Memorial Marathon

Thousands of people took part in the 15th annual Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon Sunday morning, each runner with a purpose.

This was the third year a group of Oklahomans walked the 5K for Brendon McLarty. They walked to honor what he did in life and what he did even in death. 

As this Oklahoma family can tell you, recovering from a tragedy can take time and lead you on a strenuous course. They lost their 16-year-old son Brendon in May 2012. He died from an asthma attack after football practice.

“He was the most selfless, giving young man,” Lori McLarty, Brendon's mom, said.

“He was my life,” Jon McLarty, Brendon's dad, explained.

Brendon was an organ donor, so two days after he died, Kerry Creach received Brendon's heart as a transplant.

“It was a little bit of hope in such a tragic time to know that he was saving a life,” Lori said.

Kerry was very sick and at one point leading up to the transplant, doctors told his family he wouldn't make it through the night. He made it and is now in good health, with what Brendon left behind.

He traveled from his home in Missouri to walk with Brendon's family in the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon.

“While I know it's a blessing for me, I know how hard it's got to be on his family and that's what really gets to me,” Kerry said.

“To be able to walk with him, I can't really explain the feeling. It was almost like Brendon was here with us,” Jon said.

“I am just beyond blessed to be able to have crossed the finish line with his heart,” Lori told News 9.

Their marathon journey is like thousands of others who've lost loved ones; step by step, working to mend hearts and keep memories alive.

“We are all missing somebody and everybody has lost people and this is a way for everyone to come together and celebrate their lives,” Jon said.

Marathon officials said this year more than 25,000 people registered from 46 states, the District of Columbia and seven countries.

More than a hundred of those participants were there supporting Brendon. Their shirts fund a scholarship fund in his name at Perry High School.

If you would like to donate to Brendon's scholarship fund, you can send them to:

The Brendon McLarty Memorial Scholarship Fund

Attn: Diana Brorsen

900 Fir Street

Perry, OK 73077