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The All Too Short Life of Riley

Riley Stearns,4, was one of more than 3,000 Americans who are waiting for a heart transplant. A heart-assist pump gave Riley a fighting chance.

By Richard Tsong-Taatarii

March 20, 2011 at 4:53PM

3:54

(Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Richard Tsong-Taatarii)

For much of the last year, Riley Stearns was No. 1 on the pediatric heart transplant list for his blood type as he walked the halls of the intensive care unit of the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital. His mother, Peggy Zappa, pushed a ventricular assist machine, known as a Berlin heart, that kept his weakened heart pumping as he battled with dilated cardiomyopathy. Riley turned 4 last month, still hooked to the machine, but surrounded by family, friends and nurses who all came to love his extraordinary patience, endearing smile and stylish Mohawk hairdo. Riley never left the hospital. He died earlier this month when, according to his family, one of the machine's tubes ruptured. Riley's pediatric cardiac surgeon, Dr. James St. Louis, said his case underscores the need to heighten awareness of heart transplant donation in children. At his funeral, Riley's mom said "this is a happy day," because Riley could finally run free.

At the intensive care unit of the U of M Amplatz Children's Hospital, Riley Stearns gets his exercise by going around the unit with the Berlin Heart pump assist machine that kept him alive while he waited for a heart transplant. His mother, Peggy pushes the machine with which Riley spent attached to him for nearly a year. Riley died when one of the tubes of his Berlin Heart ruptured. He never left the hospital. At the funeral for her son on March 6, "this is a happy day," said Peggy. Riley was finally coming home where he could run freely. (Joel Koyama — Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)