Probation violation prevents dad from donating kidney to son
A 2-year-old boy who is in need of a kidney donation has found a 100 percent match, the problem? Red tape.
His mother says the boy was born without kidneys and his father is a 100 percent match but due to legal troubles, the transplant is being held up indefinitely.
Anthony Dickerson says, “That’s all I ever wanted — was a son, and I finally got him, and he’s in this situation.”
Anthony was scheduled to donate his left kidney to A.J. and mom Carmella Burgess was ecstatic.
“Two steps closer to giving him a kidney and we got shut down, basically,” she recounted.
Dickerson was arrested for violating his probation last month and has been charged with possession of a firearm.
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Emory Hospital sent a letter to the Gwinnett County Jail that says, “Mr. Dickerson is currently in custody for a parole violation. If Mr. Dickerson could be escorted to Emory for blood work and a pre-operative appointment tomorrow, September 29, we will be able to continue with the scheduled surgery.”
Then, once he was released the hospital changed their tune.
“The Living Donor Transplant Team at Emory as 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.”
The boy’s family doesn’t understand why Dickerson’s legal woes would stop the process, the father is healthy, clean and ready and willing to donate his kidney.
“It’s about my son,” Carmella stated. “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.”
Dickerson doesn’t want to see his son’s chance at a normal life disappear because of the choices he made.
“What do he got to do with the mistakes I made? Nothing,” Anthony said.
“He’s only two,” Carmella added. “He don’t deserve this. We’ve been waiting so long for this.”
A.J. had a stroke two months ago and now requires constant care. He has a willing donor with a 100 percent match and he is being forced to wait and suffer.
“They’re making this about Dad,” Carmella stated. “It’s about our 2-year-old son.”
The family is left with one option now and that’s to get on the kidney transplant wait list but that could leave them with a long wait that A.J. might not be able to afford.
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