2-year-old denied kidney transplant because father violated probation
A mother says an Atlanta hospital is unfairly endangering her 2-year-old son because of his father鈥檚 mistakes.
Carmellia Burgess that her son, A.J., was born without kidneys and needs a transplant. The boy鈥檚 father, Anthony Dickerson, is a perfect match and wants to give this lifesaving gift to his son.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 all I ever wanted was a son,鈥� Dickerson told the television station. 鈥淎nd I finally got him, and he鈥檚 in this situation.鈥�
The surgery had been planned for Oct. 3, but an Emory University Hospital official sent Burgess a letter saying it would be delayed until Dickerson could show that he has complied with the conditions of his parole for three months.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e making this about Dad,鈥� Burgess . 鈥淚t鈥檚 not about Dad. It鈥檚 about our son.鈥�
Dickerson has repeatedly been in trouble with the law and was arrested last month for violating his probation, WXIA-TV reported.
That didn鈥檛 initially seem to be an obstacle. A letter to the Gwinnett County jail from Emory鈥檚 Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Program requested his temporary release.
鈥淚f Mr. Dickerson could be escorted to Emory for blood work and a pre-operative appointment tomorrow, September 29, we will be able to continue with the scheduled surgery,鈥� the Sept. 28 letter says.
But then Burgess received a letter from the hospital saying the surgery would be delayed until Dickerson can provide documentation from his parole officer showing compliance for the next three months.
鈥淲e will re-evaluate Mr. Dickerson in January 2018 after receipt of this completed documentation,鈥� the letter said.
Burgess was extremely upset by the hospital鈥檚 decision, saying it is endangering her son.
鈥淗e鈥檚 only 2,鈥� she told WXIA. 鈥淗e don鈥檛 deserve this. We鈥檝e been waiting so long for this.鈥�
Emory spokeswoman Janet Christenbury said privacy regulations bar her from providing specific information about the hospital鈥檚 patients. She also declined to speak more generally about how criminal history could affect an organ donor鈥檚 eligibility.
鈥淕uidelines for organ transplantation are designed to maximize the chance of success for organ recipients and minimize risk for living donors,鈥� she said in an emailed statement. 鈥淭ransplant decisions regarding donors are made based on many medical, social, and psychological factors.鈥�