This is the story of a 2-year-old boy who is ready to get a new kidney. This kidney is a 100 percent match, and the donor is ready as well. The problem is, Emory Hospital in Atlanta won’t perform the operation. The reason: the donor, who is the 2-year-olds father, has a parole violation. As shocking as it might seem, this is actually true and something this family has had to endure.
This made so many headlines that the local news, WXIA News, was sent to the scene. The reporters visited the family to hear their side of the story and were baffled at what they heard. Little A.J. was born without his two kidneys and he has been waiting for a transplant for the longest time. According to the mother, this is all a result of the bureaucracy that exists between the hospital and the police.
The surgery had already been scheduled, but at the last minute, it was canceled. “That’s all I ever wanted — was a son,” Anthony Dickerson told reporters. “And I finally got him, and he’s in this situation.” For his father, this ordeal has been quite a difficult one to go through. Above all, the father believes that the mistakes he has made as a man, should not have to impact his 2-year-old son.
Anthony got arrested for violating his probation one month ago. He was charged with possession of a firearm. Everything looked okay at the beginning, the hospital had even sent a letter to the jail asking if he could be taken briefly to the hospital, so he could get some bloodwork done and see if he was a match. This would be done in September, at a pre-operative appointment. The hospital staff told the people from the jail that all they wanted to do, was to save A.J.’s life and that’s why they needed to do this.
The problem was when he was released from prison. The hospital changed their mind on this. They sent out a letter that said, “The Living Donor Transplant Team at Emory has asked Mr. Dickerson for evidence of compliance from his parole officer for the next three months. We will re-evaluate Mr. Dickerson in January 2018 after receipt of his completed documentation.”
Now, what makes A.J.’s family more upset is that they believe that A.J.’s surgery should not be postponed, especially when Anthony’s is in good health and not using any drugs. A.J. should not have to suffer for this.
“It’s about my son,” A.J.’s mother said. “He’s been through a lot. It’s like we’ve been waiting on this. And Dad making a mistake shouldn’t affect what he wants to do with our son.”
There were many people involved in this. What’s your opinion on the way the hospital reacted? Please click on the video to see what happened next!
