Dying teen put at top of list for new heart after initial denial

WSBRADIO ^ | 8/13/13 | Tom Jones

[from occupied ga]

ATLANTA —

A dying teen initially told he wouldn't get a new heart has learned he's not only on the transplant list, but he's at the top of it.

Anthony Stokes' mother, Melencia Hamilton, told Channel 2's Tom Jones she is relieved and her heartache is gone now that her son is getting a new heart.

"They just had a change of heart,' Hamilton said.

That change of heart has given Hamilton's 15-year-old son, Anthony, a chance at a new heart.

Stokes has been moved to 1-A status for a new heart. That means "his heart is critical where he'll be put at the top of the list when a heart becomes available," Hamilton said.

Anthony's supporters initially said they were told by a transplant committee the teen would not be placed on the transplant list because of his truancy issues and his juvenile record.

"We believe at the initial point that they stereotyped him," said Sam Mosteller with the Georgia chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Hamilton said Children's Healthcare of Atlanta doctors told her Stokes weakened heart would have killed him within six to nine months without a transplant.

Then a doctor gave her the great news Tuesday.

"He told me that he was put on the transplant list," Hamilton said.

A hospital spokesperson sent out a statement that said, "A heart transplant evaluation is an ongoing process based on the patient and his or her family's ability to meet specific transplant criteria. Our physician experts are continuing to work with this family to establish a care plan and determine the best next steps for the patient."

Hamilton told Jones she is elated Anthony has a new lease on life and said her son feels the same way.

"Oh, he was so happy," Hamilton said.

The hospital said a lot of misinformation has been spread about its position. It said privacy laws prevent it from commenting further.

Anthony's supporters said if all goes well, he could have a new heart in a few weeks.

[from occupied ga]

Another black maumaued onto the transplant list. This article doesn't mentionwhat kid is going to DIE because this less than sterling example of humanity is going to get the heart. He was initially turned down for a reason, but the hospital transplan committe decided it was better to let a more deserving kid die than put up with the pressure from the mouthy minority entitlement crowd and their allies in the MSM.

truancy issues and his juvenile record. Another Treyvon in the making. Bet we don't get the followup story when this future banger needs another heart because he didn't take his anti-rejection medicine.

I'm waiting also for the news to report on who died becasue this young Treyvon got a heart and some other kid didn't

[MeshugeMikey]

I wonder if he tweets as no_limit_heart_patient??

[ClearCase_guy]

I think I see how these death panels are supposed to work. I guess my odds are not good at all.

[Mr. K]

""Oh, he was so happy," Hamilton said. "

I bet he goes out and steals something nice for them.

[from occupied ga]

No telling, but I remember at least ten years ago I read about another similar case at Hopkins except it was a liver.

Black welfare kid didn't take his anti-rejection medicine, so the liver failed. So they gave him another one. He didn't comply with the anti-rejection regime AGAIN and the SECOND liver failed. (That's two other kids who died so far)

He was lined up for a THIRD liver transplant when he died. Net result was the kid was a bad risk and put on the transplant list for political reasons (being black "poor") and killed two other sick people.

[cherry]

I have no problem blacks getting organs except I know with bone marrow transplants, they had to be paid to even sign up for the registries...

however, getting a transplant is a huge, expensive undertaking, and the character and habits of the recipient is very, very important...

this young man wil have to take care of himself, take meds daily, and see the dr. frequently......does he have the character to do that, seeing how he has skipped school and has some sort of "juvenile" record already...

[Buckeye McFrog]

Welcome to the world of Government-Run Healthcare.

They say no. So you have to whip up a media PR campaign and put all your most private, personal medical info out there in public in order to pressure the bureaucrats to change their minds.

It’s how it works in every other country that’s done this.

[Gaffer]

This was the first time I read anything about it before I got to a name, etc. I realized going from nowhere to 1st on the list meant this kid is black. He got a Trayvon white-guilt pass to the head of the line.

So, we now see that other matters irrespective of true fairness will be operative in the Obama Care miasma. If you’re black and can make a big stink, you’re home free - carte blanche, anything you need, at little or no cost to you. Blacks’ hypocrisy on sh!t like this is unlimited. Yeah...call me racist. I don’t care. That crap don’t play no more.

[Mercat]

I have no concern about his skin color. I want to know why his heart is shredded to begin with. If its drug use, Lean or something like that, then it seems he’s a bad risk.

[Responsibility2nd]

Other reports I read indicate he was rebelling and would not take his meds. Based on this and other factors - they pulled him from the transplant list.

But again - this is a teenaged kid. He had no clue he was signing his own death sentence. I’m hoping his parents and other responsible adults step up and make this kid behave.

Or he will die.

[ClearCase_guy]

Yes. I think the bottom line is that skin color should not be a factor either way. I want fairness and nothing else.

I remember when Mickey Mantle got a liver transplant -- he went straight to the top of the list because he was Mickey Mantle. That's wrong because it's favoritism, and it's wrong because he drank his liver bad.

A black kid needs a transplant? Maybe his need is legitimate. But I don't want any PC favoritism, and I don't want a drug abuser to jump ahead of people are who flat-out sick.

[SeekAndFind]

I’m happy for the kid... but what if we have THOUSANDS of cases like this? Do we have enough hearts to supply them?

[MeshugeMikey]

now that the felon in chief is running the show its only going to get a LOT worse in the next.....X number of years!!!

Thank you!

[cherry]

because the agencies refuse to refuse liver transplants to long time alcoholics or drug addicts, I won't sign up to be an organ donor..

but be prepared to have NO CHOICE because pretty soon it'll be required that you OPT OUT in writing if you don't want to be a donor...

If I could direct my bodily parts to specific people....like children or young people in general...I would do it in a flash...

[from occupied ga]

Do we have enough hearts to supply them?

Of course not (I know it was a rhetorical question). That's why there is a list.

[heartwood]

I think the truancy issues and his juvenile record were not moral factors in the decision at all, but practical factors - will he comply with anti-rejection medications and physician visits, or will he blow them off and waste the heart?

[freeangel]

The hospital was prohibited from commenting further because of HIPPA rules.

[BFM]

A favor or benefit given to one person, is a favor or benefit taken from or denied to another...

[Pinkbell]

I heard this story, and I know he has had some issues, but he’s still a 15 year old kid who is dying. I wish him the best and hope he uses this to turn his life around.

[from occupied ga]

I have no problem blacks getting organs

Neither do I. I do have a HUGE problem with an inappropriate person getting on the list and going to the head of the list SOLELY because the entitlement set (99.99999% of the time mouthy "poor" blacks) brays loudly enough.