A 12-year-old girl in Ohio has been denied a heart transplant due to her vaccine status. The child, Adaline Deal, has been waiting for a life-saving procedure. However, her parents refused to get her vaccinated.
Family’s Struggle
Adaline was adopted from China at age four. She was diagnosed with Ebstein’s anomaly and Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome. These conditions made a heart transplant necessary. For nearly a decade, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital has provided her care. Last month, doctors confirmed that her heart was failing.
Her mother, Jeneen Deal, stated that vaccination requirements stopped the hospital from adding Adaline to the transplant list. The hospital requires heart transplant patients to receive Covid-19 and flu shots. The parents refused, citing religious beliefs.
Hospital’s Policy on Ohio Girl Denied Transplant
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital follows strict guidelines for transplant eligibility. Patients undergoing transplants face high infection risks. Vaccinations help prevent life-threatening complications. The hospital stated that these policies protect patients, especially in the first year after surgery. However, vaccine mandates vary by hospital.
The Reaction of the Family
Jeneen Deal was irate, claiming that the hospital would not respect their values. Her opinions were posted on social media. “They informed me that unless she has the vaccinations, they won’t list her. “I was taken aback,” she wrote.
The family is currently looking for a another hospital that will take Adaline without requiring the vaccination. Meanwhile, they have raised over $57,000 through GoFundMe to cover transplant costs.
Medical Experts Weigh In
Experts in transplantation concur that vaccinations are essential for survival after surgery. Hospital vaccination requirements are supported by the American Society of Transplant Surgeons. Vaccinations are not required by the Health Resources and Services Administration, though. Hospitals are left to make their own judgments.
Uncertain Future
Adaline’s future remains unclear. The hospital has not changed its decision. The family hopes to find another hospital willing to accept their daughter without vaccines. Until then, her condition remains critical.
Source: Independent