Southern California boy receives pediatric partial heart transplant, making history in California
History was made after a team of surgeons successfully performed a pediatric partial heart transplant in Southern California for the first time.
Ymiliano Hernandez, 12, was born with truncus arteriosis, a rare congenital heart defect.
“In this condition, one large blood vessel leads out of the heart, instead of two,” according to the Mayo Clinic. “Having only one large blood vessel means that oxygen-poor and oxygen-rich blood mix. This mixing reduces the amount of oxygen delivered to the body. It usually increases the amount of blood flow into the lungs too. The heart has to work harder to adjust for the changes in blood flow.”
-
Ymiliano Hernandez, 12, was born with truncus arteriosis, a rare congenital heart defect. He received a life-saving pediatric partial heart transplant at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital. (Hernandez Family) -
Ymiliano Hernandez, 12, was born with truncus arteriosis, a rare congenital heart defect. He received a life-saving pediatric partial heart transplant at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital. (Hernandez Family) -
Ymiliano Hernandez received a partial heart transplant at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital on Jan. 21, 2025. (Hernandez Family) -
Dr. Anees Razzouk, a heart surgeon (left), and Dr. Natalie Shwaish, a pediatric cardiologist, speak to KTLA about the historic pediatric partial heart transplant surgery they worked on at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital in Loma, Linda, California. (KTLA) -
Ymiliano Hernandez is seen with his mother, Jesusita Hernandez, at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital in January 2025. (Hernandez Family) -
Ymiliano Hernandez is on the mend after he received a partial heart transplant at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital on Jan. 21, 2025. (Hernandez Family) -
Ymiliano Hernandez is on the mend after he received a partial heart transplant at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital on Jan. 21, 2025. (Hernandez Family)
Over the course of his life, Ymiliano had undergone several procedures to address the condition, including two open heart surgeries.
In July 2024, the boy’s mother, Jesusita Hernandez, said her son fell ill and was experiencing a fever. After an examination, doctors suspected the fever was caused by something more serious.
“They did a ton of blood work and caught the bacteria first, that he had an infection in the blood,” Jesusita recalled. “Then they did an MRI and they realized he had too many strokes.”
The infection originated from the artificial valves that had previously been implanted. That’s when Ymiliano’s doctors recommended a partial heart transplant.
“Ymiliano’s heart was very strong,” said Dr. Anees Razzouk, a heart surgeon at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital. “The muscle was pumping very well, but he did not have the proper connections.”
Ymiliano would keep his own heart muscle, but the valves and tubes that connected the heart to the lungs and body would be replaced and this time, by live donor tissue.
“Ymiliano waited about four months to get a donor available that was just right for him,” said Dr. Natalie Shwaish, a pediatric cardiologist at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital.
On Jan. 21, the young boy prepared to undergo surgery. Around 15 hours later, the operation was successful and Jesusita received the best news a mother could hope for.
“According to [the doctors], everything seems good,” said Jesusita. “His cut, his big incision looks really good.”
The life-saving procedure also made history as the first of its kind in state history.
“As far as we know, this is the first one done in California,” said Dr. Shwaish.
The boy’s family is beyond thrilled to see him on the mend. As he continues on the road to recovery, the one thing he can’t wait to do is have enough energy to play with his sister.
Ymiliano and his family said they are beyond thankful to the doctors and hospital staff who worked to save his life.