Hospital denies child a chance

Warning to would-be organ recipients: The rules have changed.

Big Brother has issued an edict – superseding all others – that will determine whether a donor’s organ is “good” or “bad.”

It has nothing to do with those now-passé traits used to determine compatibility, such as blood type, tissue type and crossmatching. Instead, it’s an organ’s character and legal status. And that’s not chopped liver, but all too real, as a case playing out in Georgia illustrates.

As a result, people who had hope for a new beginning may now find themselves staring death in the face, courtesy of doctors and hospital administrators playing something more than just God – Big Brother.

A.J. Burgess, a 2-year old boy from Atlanta who weighs a scant 25 pounds, was born prematurely and without functioning kidneys. He spent his first 10 months in a neonatal intensive care unit, and to this day, his mother, Carmellia, feeds him intravenously. He also undergoes daily dialysis.

Carmellia said that she was counseled to abort, being told that A.J. would not live more than 24 hours after birth. Defying the “experts,” Carmellia had the courage to persevere, and proudly calls A.J. a miracle child. That he is.

But A.J. still faces a significant hurdle. He is in desperate need of a kidney, and if he doesn’t receive one, he’ll likely soon die.

The good news is that his father, Anthony Dickerson, is a perfect match, so much so that he was scheduled to donate his kidney last month.

The shockingly bad news is that Emory Hospital called off the surgery. Why? Because Dickerson was arrested for a parole violation. The hospital now is indicating the surgery could be delayed so Dickerson can show he has compiled with the conditions of his parole for three months.

So let’s recap this situation for exactly what it is: A child clinging to life was given immense hope because a perfect kidney was found, but because of the donor’s trouble with the law, the hospital refused to perform lifesaving surgery – a decision that could well become a death sentence.

Why is the hospital so hellbent on being Big Brother? What concern is it of theirs that the donor has a parole violation? According to Mawuli Davis, the Burgess’ attorney, the hospital said it needs the father to be compliant with the terms of his parole for a 90day period before it would consider performing surgery. That pushes any operation back until at least January – time that Carmellia says A.J. might not have, especially because he is battling a bladder infection.

Perhaps the only thing more stunning than Emory’s arrogance is its complete disregard for the Hippocratic Oath. We often hear about the need for prison reform, and the value in rethinking rehabilitation so that prisoners can re-enter society as truly changed people. Well, here’s a newsflash: We can do that, right now. So few can ever say they directly saved another human being’s life. Anthony Dickerson can do that – and wants to. For God’s sake, if that’s not the best way to rehabilitate someone, what is?

Carmellia Burgess has handled her situation with dignity, and should be commended for her incredible grace under pressure. But no amount of accolades will matter if her son dies an eminently preventable death.

A.J.’s case briefly made national headlines before the media moved on to more “pressing” stories such as Millennials camping out for a $1,000 iPhone and how the president’s Twitter account went blank for eleven minutes.

Nonetheless, Emory Hospital administrators have started making small overtures to the Burgess family – ostensibly because of local protests – that maybe, just maybe, a quicker solution can be found.

But maybe isn’t good enough. A.J. doesn’t need “maybe.” He needs his father’s kidney. Immediately.

It is now up to the news media. We will make or break A.J.’s fate. Our actions – not the president’s rhetoric – will determine if we are indeed “fake.” If pressure is brought to bear, and Emory is put on the hot seat, then A.J. Burgess will live to tell his story.

For the hospital to have a change of heart, it doesn’t need a transplant. It only needs to soften the one it surely must have.

Emory Hospital, you’re 15 minutes are here – but the clock is ticking.