Christopher Reid is calling it a second chance after undergoing a life saving heart transplant.
The Kid ’N Play star opened up in a new interview on Good Morning America, where he spoke with Michael Strahan about the health scare that nearly took his life. “New year, new heart, new vibration,” Reid said with a smile.
The 61-year-old said warning signs began creeping in over the past year as simple activities became exhausting. “I started to feel more fatigued,” he explained. “You kind of chalk it up to getting older.”
By summer, things took a serious turn. Reid landed in the emergency room and received a diagnosis that stunned him. “Congestive heart failure,” he said. “That’s a bad one.”
Doctors initially tried medication, but his condition worsened. Tests later showed his heart was failing fast and affecting other organs. A transplant became his only option. “It was really a life or death situation,” one of his doctors said.
Just nine days after being placed on the transplant list, Reid got the call. “They said, ‘We got the heart,’” he recalled. “Seven hours later, I had a new heart.”
Now recovering, Reid says gratitude guides him. “I hope I’m a better version of myself,” he said. “This is a beautiful life.”
He also hopes his story encourages fans to take their health seriously. “Go get it checked out,” Reid urged. “You might not get another chance.”