Kid 'N Play's Christopher Reid Reveals He's Recovering from a Heart Transplant: 'I'm a Better Version of Myself'

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NEED TO KNOW

• Kid 'N Play's Christopher Reid underwent a heart transplant after being diagnosed with congestive heart failure last year

• The rapper hopes his story inspires others, especially people of color, to prioritize their heart health

• Reid is feeling renewed and working on a new special, Kid 'N Play tour dates and a book titled Heart of the Matter

Christopher Reidhas a second chance at life.

The hip-hop icon known for his towering high-top fade — who rose to fame as one half of the duo Kid 'N Play alongside Christopher Martin, and later starred in theHouse Partyfilms — is recovering after undergoing a heart transplant.

"New year, new heart, new vibration," Reid said ina sit-down withGood Morning America's Michael Strahanthat aired on Thursday, Feb. 5.

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Reflecting on his scare, Reid, 61, said he began noticing something was wrong with his health over the past year when everyday tasks became harder.

"I started to feel a little bit more fatigued than before," Reid explained. "And then when you feel that shortness of breath, sleeping a lot more than normal. And I think sometimes you kind of just chalk it up to, 'I'm getting older, the road is harsh.' "

But by July, his symptoms worsened, sending him to the emergency room, where doctors delivered a shocking diagnosis.

"Congestive heart failure," Reid said. "That's a bad one."

Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

After initially being treated with medication, Reid returned to his cardiologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles just weeks later with worsening swelling, raising serious concerns.

"He came in very swollen again," said Dr. Erika Jones. "That is a little unusual in somebody who has been started on treatment, for the swelling to come back that quickly."

Additional blood work revealed Reid's heart failure was beginning to affect other organs. He was rushed to the ICU and told that a heart transplant was his only option.

"When we think about status for heart transplant, he was very high on that list because of how ill he was," said cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Laura DiChiacchio. "[He was] really dealing with a life or death situation."

Reid said he was determined to approach the process with gratitude and purpose.

"I wanted to let them know at the same time, 'Hey, I am worthy of this,' " he said. "If I do get this gift, I intend to respect it and really live life to the fullest."

Just nine days later, he received the call. "They're saying, 'We got the heart and we want to put it in tomorrow night at 10 p.m.,' " Reid recalled. "About seven hours later, I have a new heart."

Now recovering, Reid said the experience has left him feeling renewed. "I hope that I'm the same person, but that I'm a better version of myself," he said. "Because man, this thing, this is a beautiful life."

Reid's story comes during American Heart Month in February, a national campaign dedicated to raising awareness about cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S., according to the CDC.

It's a reality Reid says too many people ignore until it's too late. He told Strahan he's hoping his story will encourage others, particularly people of color, to prioritize their health.

"A lot of people be walking around with heart disease because they don't go to the doctor," Reid said. "You might not [get over it]. So I'm urging all of my fans, all of y'all's loved ones too — get it checked out."

As for Reid's future, Strahan said the musician is feeling energized and is already working on a new special, planning additional Kid 'N Play tour dates and writing a book.

Its title, fittingly, isHeart of the Matter.

Good Morning Americaairs weekdays (beginning at 7 a.m. ET) on ABC.

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