Local News in Brief : Orange : Patient With New Heart Upgraded From Critical
Orange County’s third heart transplant recipient was upgraded from critical to serious condition Friday and ate his first solid food--cereal and muffins for breakfast.
Gene Reynolds, a 45-year-old Pacific Bell employee who received the heart of a 21-year-old man killed in a car accident during the Memorial Day weekend, was also scheduled to leave his bed and take a walk around the unit at UCI Medical Center in Orange, according to medical center spokeswoman Elaine Beno.
“He is doing really well,” she said.
Reynolds had developed a condition known as cardiomyopathy, a weakening of the heart muscle, two years ago. His condition had gradually deteriorated and he was admitted to the hospital on May 13.
The transplant operation Tuesday lasted 3 1/2 hours, hospital officials said.
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