Overview
- Reid, 61, disclosed on Good Morning America that he received a donor heart after being diagnosed with congestive heart failure last summer.
- He described about a year of fatigue, shortness of breath, and swelling before an emergency visit to Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles led to the diagnosis.
- Cardiologist Dr. Erika Jones said follow-up blood work showed his heart was failing again and beginning to affect other organs despite initial medication.
- Surgeon Dr. Laura DiChiacchio said he was listed with high priority, a donor heart became available in nine days, and the transplant operation lasted roughly seven hours.
- Reid urged fans to get checkups and screenings, noting many people—especially people of color—delay care, with coverage citing American Heart Association data on the heavy toll of heart disease.