arts
Florida boy receives state's first partial heart transplant at local children's hospital
By Lauren Pastrana at CBS4 Miami
· June 12, 2026
· 2 min read
A Florida boy is the first patient in the state to receive a partial heart transplant using a "living" valve, following a surgery performed at Nicklaus Children's Hospital.The patient, Greyson Gonzalez, lives on the west coast of Florida but was born in New York, where he was first diagnosed with a
Key takeaway Greyson's mother, Pietra Archila, recalled the shock of the diagnosis.
Why this matters in The Miami
The successful partial heart transplant at Nicklaus Children's Hospital marks a significant milestone for South Florida's medical community, particularly for families affected by congenital heart defects. As a major hub for Latin American and Caribbean communities, Miami's hospitals often serve a diverse patient population with unique needs. The fact that Dr. David Kalfa, a renowned cardiac surgeon, has joined Nicklaus Children's Hospital as the Chief of Cardiac Surgery, brings specialized expertise to the region. This development is crucial, given that congenital heart defects are the most common birth defects, affecting thousands of infants nationwide each year. With the hospital's Heart Institute now offering this innovative "living" valve transplantation technique, families in Miami-Dade County and beyond may have greater access to life-changing treatments, potentially reducing the need for multiple surgeries and improving long-term outcomes for children like Greyson Gonzalez.
About this story
Original reporting by CBS4 Miami . The Miami surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit CBS4 Miami . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: arts ·
Published: June 12, 2026 ·
Source: CBS4 Miami ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A Florida boy is the first patient in the state to receive a partial heart transplant using a "living" valve, following a surgery performed at Nicklaus Children's Hospital.The patient, Greyson Gonzalez, lives on the west coast of Florida but was born in New York, where he was first diagnosed with a
When was this published? This article was first published on June 12, 2026 by CBS4 Miami and curated for The Miami readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Lauren Pastrana at CBS4 Miami. To learn more about how The Miami selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more arts coverage from The Miami, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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