Emotional video from California capturing a woman's reaction when she meets the man who received her dead son's heart in a transplant operation.

The footage, captured on September 8 in Ramona in San Diego County, shows the woman listening to her son's heartbeat in recipient David Ponder using a stethoscope.

''I received a new heart by transplant. From the first day I wanted to know who my donor was,'' said Ponder.

''After a six-month mandatory waiting period I sent my letter to the family.

''On August 1 2017 I received a letter from my donor's family. They were having a birthday party for him in remembrance so we went to the party and met the family.''

''It was an emotional, wonderful experience,'' he added.