Miami Man: 'I Received Miracle This Holiday'

POSTED: 5:28 pm CST December 19, 2006
UPDATED: 11:13 pm CST December 19, 2006


CHICAGO -- A local man gave a gift that'll keep on giving long after this report is over.

Two suburban men are now forever linked with the gift of life, and they are an unlikely pair.


Cabraz Reddice learned in April that his liver failed. His wife Dawn and their two kids threw a donor dinner party hoping that someone would be a match, but they didn't have to look too far.


Reddice has a son with another woman, and his name is D'juan. It's the boy's new father who is coming through for Reddice.

"He's my sons stepfather -- my ex-girlfriend's new husband," said Reddice. "I never thought he'd be the man to do it, but he's come through more than anyone."

Gonzalez, 28, stepped up when, he said, no one else would.

"The main reason is for D'juan. I grew up without a father and didn't want him to do the same," said Gonzalez.

Gonzalez works shipping in a Mokena manufacturing company. He's got everything to live for -- including a new baby on the way.

"With the baby on the way, there's a chance something could happen, but I keep saying, 'You gotta think positive!'" he said.

"You can't put it into words," said a grateful Reddice. "You can't put into words someone saving your life. You can say 'thank you' a million times and it still won't say it. I witnessed a miracle this holiday."

Doctors at Northwestern will be performing the transplant on Dec. 22, one day after Reddice's birthday and three days before Christmas.

So how does one return the favor of a Christmas miracle?

"I just told him if the Bears go to the Superbowl, we'll get some tickets and fly to Miami," Gonzalez said with a smile.


a miracle indeed...

Very nice

wow that is very inspiring.

the best thing about life is that it can take you anywhere and you never know how it ends

Very cool!

IrresistibleB1tch said:

True meaning of Christmas....


Cheerful giving