In a tragic case, two men shared more than just a heart; they shared a final fate. The story began in 1995 when 33-year-old Terry Cottle took his own life. His heart was donated to Sonny Graham, a man facing heart failure.
Following the successful transplant, Sonny wrote to Terry’s widow, Cheryl. When they met, Sonny claimed he fell in love instantly. Friends noticed that Sonny even began liking the same foods Terry had loved, such as hot dogs and beer.
The bond between Sonny and Cheryl grew over time. Eventually, Sonny divorced his wife of 38 years to marry Cheryl in 2004. For a while, the couple appeared happy, publicly sharing their gratitude for the second chance at life the transplant provided.
In 2008, the story took a chilling turn. At the age of 69, Sonny Graham died by suicide. Chillingly, he ended his life in the exact same manner as his donor, Terry Cottle, had done 13 years earlier.
The striking similarities between the two deaths left family and friends searching for answers. While police ruled the death a suicide, the case remains a haunting example of how two strangers became linked through a single organ.
