It started with a phone call out of nowhere. A director was in the Bay Area wrapping up a documentary called The Power of the Heart — from Drew Heriot, the director of The Secret — and decided at the last minute that Kristina's story needed to be in it. Sandra and Dave Chesterman had come to expect these kinds of moments.
"It just felt like it was fate. The timing was coincidental, but it was the right time to incorporate her story … Kristina had such a strong love and I think that's carried over. She's still trying to influence the world."
— Dave Chesterman
In the film — based on a book by Baptist de Pape and featuring Maya Angelou, Jane Goodall, Paulo Coelho, and Deepak Chopra — Kristina's story is a moving centerpiece, not an afterthought. De Pape, a producer on the film, said that Kristina's story had become big news in his hometown of Amsterdam, where people had been crossing items off her bucket list on her behalf.
"The worst thing that can happen to any parent is to lose their child. In a dark, dark part of their lives, Dave and Sandra are following everything that inspires them. That's the resilience of the human spirit."
— Baptist de Pape, producer
For Sandra, seeing Kristina's name alongside those of Maya Angelou and Jane Goodall meant everything.
"She was always so special. It was good to see her name up there with all those people and know that she's making an impact on how people live their lives. It was an honor for us."
— Sandra Chesterman
Susan Vieira, who received Kristina's heart and appears in the film, watched it with the transplant team that saved her life. It moved them to tears.
"I'm just hoping we'll be able to share it with others on a larger scale. There's something in there that needs to be seen."
— Susan Vieira, heart recipient
The Chestermans hosted screenings to benefit the Kristina Chesterman Memorial Clinic in Nigeria — a project inspired by Kristina's dream of joining Doctors Without Borders and providing medical care to underserved communities. At the time, the family needed about $40,000 to complete construction. All proceeds from the screenings went toward the clinic. De Pape attended the Chico showing in person.
"She was big on doing the right thing, and I hope the movie changes people, inspires them to make better choices and live through their hearts because it's the right way to live. Kristina just did that naturally."
— Sandra Chesterman
Originally reported by the Chico Enterprise-Record, May 2, 2015.