Baby Moses - A Miracle at Loma Linda

When the team at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital first met baby Eddie “Moses” Anguiano in 1985, his future was uncertain. Born with a rare and fatal heart condition, he spent his earliest days surrounded by wires, monitors, and the quiet strength of his parents and care team.

At just four days old, Eddie became the first baby in the world to receive a successful human-to-human infant heart transplant. The surgery took place on November 20, 1985, under the leadership of pioneering heart surgeon Dr. Leonard L. Bailey. The donor family’s selfless decision gave Moses a new heart and a new chance at life.

Nearly forty years later, that same transplanted heart is still beating strong. In 2025, Eddie celebrated his 40th birthday, making him the longest-living infant heart transplant recipient in history. (Loma Linda University Health News, 2025)

His life story continues to inspire transplant families around the world. It is a story not only of medical innovation but also of love, faith, and enduring gratitude. The Loma Linda transplant team often calls moments like these “shared miracles,” because behind every success are donor families, surgeons, nurses, and caregivers who keep showing up day after day.

Eddie says he carries both hearts, his donor’s and his own, in every part of his life. “I am so thankful for the family that said yes,” he shared in a recent interview. “Their gift made my life possible.”

His journey reminds all of us why organ donation matters and how a single act of generosity can ripple across generations.

Call to action: Celebrate transplant milestones by sharing your story or thank-you message at Transplant Families: Share Your Story.

Research Watch: The Legacy of Infant Heart Transplantation

• Loma Linda University Health (2025): Baby Moses, born Eddie Anguiano, marks 40 years with his original donor heart and is the world’s longest-living infant heart transplant recipient.🔗 40 Years of Life: The Miracle of Baby Moses and the Heart That Changed Medicine

• Loma Linda University Health Archives: Dr. Leonard Bailey and his team performed the first successful infant heart transplant in 1985, paving the way for modern pediatric transplant care.🔗 Infant Heart Transplantation – Loma Linda University Health

• UPI Archives (1986): Early coverage of the procedure and recovery of “Baby Moses,” then the youngest infant ever to undergo a human-to-human heart transplant.🔗 UPI Archives – Baby Moses Story, 1986