MUST WATCH: This Rigby boy won over Ellen’s heart. Now he’s finally receiving his own.
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WEDNESDAY UPDATE: Tayt’s heart surgery was a success — read more here.
UPDATE: Lori Embree, Tayt’s grandmother, tells EastIdahoNews.com the family has arrived at the hospital. He is expected to go into surgery between 5 p.m and 7 p.m. tonight. He’s also been contacted by representatives from Ellen DeGeneres Show.
“We live in a great community and we love the people in Idaho,” Embree said. “And the surgeons at Primary Children’s are wonderful.”
RIGBY – A nine-year-old boy born with a rare heart condition learned some incredible news Tuesday — he’s receiving a new heart.
In an emotional video posted on the “Tayt’s Wish” Facebook page Tuesday, Tayt Andersen and his mother, Chrissy Andersen, announced the good news.
Tayt has waited for a new heart since birth and was denied a transplant twice because he wasn’t well enough. He was born premature with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, Hydrocephalus, and Spastic Paraplegia. Only one in 50,000 children are born with these conditions and most don’t survive.
As of Tuesday morning, Tayt and his mother were on their way to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City.
“I’m kinda overwhelmed,” Chrissy Andersen said while traveling. “It’s just been a long time coming.”
Tayt will undergo a 17 hour transplant surgery and recovery is expected to last a few weeks.
Tayt received worldwide media attention after he appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2011. The talk show host heard about the Rigby boy after learning he had two wishes: go to Disneyland and meet his “girlfriend” Ellen DeGeneres.
After his first appearance, DeGeneres invited Tayt back on her show several times. She’s donated money to his family and surprised Tayt with a trip to Disneyland. DeGeneres refers to Tate as being her “only boyfriend.”
On his way to surgery, Tayt relayed a message to everyone who’s followed his story, “I love my girlfriend, Ellen, and my friends and I am excited!”
Click to leave a message of support for Tayt on the EastIdahoNews.com Facebook page.
Stay with EastIdahoNews.com for continuous updates on Tayt’s surgery and recovery.