First Reported 04/12/2013
I want to be sad for this young man but how can you argue taking away the chance of some other child on the list who hasn't spent there life thus far causing nothing but and getting into trouble. I wish there was something more I could do, but there isn't.
I asked myself what could be done, thinking maybe if this became national news the hospital would change there mind.
I feel as though this story deserves national press, not simply because I feel as though they'd change there tune if it did but maybe this story will ring true into a lot of teenagers and young adults ears that you make the bed you lie in. Even at the tender age of 15 your life can be cut short from past decisions you've made. Read the story and leave a comment, let me know what you think after you read after the break..
A 15-year-old Atlanta boy who needs a new heart will not be placed on the trI wanansplant list, according to doctors at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta-Scottish Rite.
Anthony Stokes has only 6 months to live if he doesn’t get a life-saving heart transplant. Stokes was diagnosed with an enlarged heart last month after he complained of shortness of breath.
But after discussing his case with transplant doctors, Anthony’s doctors at Scottish Rite told his mother, Melencia Hamilton (pictured left), that he is not a viable candidate for a transplant because of his past history of “noncompliance”.
Anthony’s outraged parents and supporters say the hospital is using Anthony’s criminal history and poor grades in school as excuses to deny him a chance at life.
“Every day is up and down. He’s OK one minute, the next minute he’s not,” Hamilton, told CBS Atlanta.
“He’s been given a death sentence because of a broad and vague excuse of noncompliance. There was nothing specific in that decision. Just noncompliance,” said Christine Young Brown with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
The doctors decision may seem harsh, but there are so few pediatric hearts available for hundreds if not thousands of transplant candidates across the country that preference is always given to young patients who have a higher chance of achieving a post-transplant success rate.
CBS Atlanta obtained the letter that Hamilton said the hospital gave her.
“The decision was made that Anthony is currently not a transplant candidate due to having a history of non-compliance, which is one of our center’s contraindications to listing for heart transplant,” doctors explained in the letter.
“As we discussed today with Anthony’s mother, we will not place Anthony on the heart transplant waiting list at this time due to this decision,” the letter continues.
Doctors believe Anthony probably won’t follow the very strict post-op medication plan and follow-up treatments to prevent his bodies from rejecting the transplant.
If a teen has a history of gang banging, behavioral problems and/or drug use, it is a no brainer that he will not be considered for a heart transplant.
Please keep this young man in your prayers..
UPDATE---AS OF 04/02/2015
ABC NEWS REPORTS..
A Georgia teen who received a heart transplant less than two years ago has died in a car accident while fleeing police, according to officials.
Anthony Stokes, 17, was driving a car that matched the description of a car used to flee a home burglary, in which a masked person allegedly shot a gun at an 81-year-old woman who was home watching television, Roswell Police spokeswoman Officer Lisa Holland told ABC News.
When officers tried to pull the vehicle over, the driver allegedly refused to stop, and they chased him, she said.
"The car lost control at an intersection, ran over a curb, hit a pedestrian and ran into big, metal pole," Holland said.
Stokes died Tuesday night from injuries sustained in the crash
World News Videos | US News Videos Wow.. looking back on my thoughts then and looking at the end result now its sad how he didn't live life to his fullest potential after being given a 2nd Chance to live. That could of been a more deserving persons heart. But at the same time who's without sin? I bet this situation is going to force the health care system to re-evaluate people who are awaiting transplants and looking into there criminal history and background or just there necessity to society. Hence Death Panels which is hidden in the Obama Care Law that passed; They claim that it has not yet been implemented, but there's a lot of Vet's who'd like to argue that point. Just because its not happening to you doesn't make it non-existant.
World News Videos | US News Videos
No comments:
Post a Comment