Baby Given Heart Transplant Dies

Michael John Reddix, the month-old child of a Yorba Linda couple, died Sunday at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles after getting a heart transplant last week.

A hospital spokesman said Monday that the baby died of lung problems, not a problem with the transplanted heart.

“The cause of death was severe pulmonary complications,” said Tim Bradley, a spokesman for Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. “The heart was functioning well.”

The baby had been on a heart-lung machine since his birth Feb. 8 at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange. Doctors found that the baby had a defective heart that could not be surgically repaired.

The parents, Gerald and Valerie Reddix, issued a national plea for a donor heart for their baby. On Thursday, a heart became available, and Dr. Vaughn Starnes of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles conducted a four-hour transplant operation.

The Reddix baby was being weaned from the heart-lung machine when he died at 12:20 p.m., Bradley said.

Gerald Reddix, who is a marriage, family and child counselor with Minirth-Meier Clinic West in Santa Ana, said his family appreciated the national outpouring of love and interest in little Michael’s situation.

“We are grateful for all the help and prayers we’ve received and for all the attention the news media has given this,” he said.

A memorial service for Michael John will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Vineyard Christian Center, 5340 La Palma Ave., Anaheim.