Young Boy Denied Kidney Transplant Because Father Violated Probation

A hospital denied a 2-year-old boy a life-saving kidney transplant when they learned of his father’s probation violation.

Anthony Dickerson was supposed to donate his kidney to his son, AJ Burgess, who was born a month early and came without functioning kidneys. Dickerson is a 100 percent match for the toddler.

When Emory Hospital learned that Dickerson spent time behind bars for violating his probation, they denied the family the surgery. He was arrested for possession of firearms.

Janet Christenbury, the hospital’s director of media relations, told the Daily News that their policies for organ transplantation are meant to maximize the chance of success for organ recipients and minimize risk for living donors.

She emphasized, “Transplant decisions regarding donors are made based on many medical, social, and psychological factors.”

The hospital reportedly agreed to reevaluate the case in 2018 if Dickerson maintains good behavior for three to four months prior to donating his kidney.

The surgery was scheduled early in Oct. but Dickerson was arrested by authorities in Gwinnett County just before that.

Carmella, AJ’s mother, is worried that her son will not make it to 2018. She said that the toddler needs bladder surgery. More importantly, the boy’s body is failing. A few months ago, the two-year-old suffered a stroke, which only made the transplant more urgent.

“‘He’s been through a lot,” the mother said. Unconvinced about the hospital guidelines, Carmella believes the hospital is punishing their boy for his father’s actions.

AJ could be placed on the kidney transplant waiting list but chances of getting an immediate transplant are slim. The National Kidney Foundation suggests that the patients on the list would have to wait three to five years on average. On the other hand, AJ, being a child, will be one of the priorities.