OAK RIDGE, Tenn. -- The families of two 12-year-old girls, one who died when she was hit by a school bus and another who was suffering from a heart defect, say the girls are now forever linked.

VIDEO: Heart Of Child Killed By Bus Saves Young Transplant Patient

Ashley Paine was killed on Friday afternoon when a bus ran over her. Her heart was successfully transplanted on Monday to Jordon Hensley at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

"I feel horrible for their loss," Jordon's mother, Jessica Hensley, told The Oak Ridger. "Words cannot express how thankful we are."

The families are separated by only about 20 miles; the Hensley family lives in Kingston, and the Paine family lives in Oak Ridge. They never met, but Ashley's brother attends Jordon's middle school.

Hensley said she broke down in tears after reading news reports about the accident that killed Ashley Paine. On Friday afternoon, Paine fell off her bike on her way home from school and tumbled into an access lane that leads to the turnpike. She landed under the rear wheels of a passing school bus and was run over.

"I feel horrible for their loss," said the Kingston mother. "Words cannot express how thankful we are."

The seventh-grader died on Sunday and her parents, Donnie and Laurie Paine, donated her organs to five people.

Jordon's doctors told her early Monday morning that she was receiving the heart and she immediately called her mother with the news.

“I said, ‘Mama, they got me a heart,’ and she started crying,” Jordon said.

“All she said was she was a 12-year-old girl not far by in Tennessee, and immediately I knew it was Ashley,” said Jessica Hensley.

Jessica Hensley said she immediately got on the phone and called the funeral home. Her only motive was to thank the people responsible for sparing her child's life.

"I feel better knowing Ashley is still touching lives," Laurie Paine said. "It's knowing that Ashley would have chosen a 12-year-old."

“She said she really wanted to meet Jordan, and she would like a picture of Jordan,” Jessica Hensley said.

Jessica Hensley said Tuesday that her daughter's transplant surgery went well and the family hopes to be back at home by Christmas.

Jordon, who had been in the intensive care unit for several weeks at Vanderbilt, suffered from an acyanotic congenital heart defect in which the primary arteries are transposed.

Laurie Paine said she would like for the Hensley family to attend the funeral.

"I want very much to put my arms around them," Jessica Hensley said.

The Paine family has sent a bouquet of flowers and a get well card. The Hensleys will attend the funeral of a child they never knew but is now a part of them.

“I'm looking forward to meeting them, but I know it's going to be very emotional,” said Jessica Hensley.

“Thank you so much for donating her heart,” Jordon Hensley said.

Jordon said she's eager to get back to school and run around the gym with her friends -- something she was never able to do with her own heart.

Hensley's expected to be home in time for Christmas.