Family Fights for Heart Transplant Eligibility After Vaccine Status Denial for Young Girl

Family Fights for Heart Transplant Eligibility After Vaccine Status Denial for Young Girl

A mother is raising her voice after learning that her 12-year-old daughter, Adaline, was denied a spot on the heart transplant list at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital due to her vaccination status. This revelation has sparked a broader discussion about the intersection of medical policies and personal beliefs.

The Deals, Brayton and Jeneen, adopted Adaline from China, where she was born with two severe heart conditions that eventually necessitated a transplant. According to their GoFundMe campaign, the adoption agency initially advised them to select another child, suggesting that Adaline’s healthcare needs might be insurmountable.

“They told us she wasn’t going to survive,” the family shared. Despite this grim perspective, the Deals were determined to support Adaline. They continued funding her care until they assumed she had passed away when they switched to a different adoption process.

Much to their surprise, when they began the journey a second time, they discovered that Adaline was still available for adoption. They welcomed her into their home and watched her flourish amidst her health challenges.

Declining Health and Urgent Need for Medical Intervention

Recently, however, Jeneen Deal reported a decline in Adaline’s health. “Since we brought her home, she’s been in and out of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital,” she explained. As Adaline has grown, her heart has struggled to keep pace with her development, leading to the urgent need for a heart transplant.

“Currently, she requires a transplant to sustain her life,” Jeneen stated, highlighting the stakes of their situation.

Vaccination Requirement Sparks Controversy

Stephanie Stock, the president of Ohio Advocates for Medical Freedom, has publicly supported the Deals. In a recent Facebook video, she revealed that hospital officials communicated that vaccination against COVID-19 and the flu was a prerequisite for being placed on the transplant list.

“This requirement contradicts our beliefs,” Jeneen shared, emphasizing the family’s commitment to their principles. Despite requesting a religious exemption, the hospital has not accommodated their request, citing official transplant policies.

Stock has criticized these policies as discriminatory, asserting, “It’s unfathomable to deny a child a critical transplant based on their vaccination status.”

A Family’s Plea and Ongoing Advocacy

In an exclusive interview, Jeneen expressed her family’s sense of helplessness in the face of these circumstances. “There’s not much we can do besides appeal to the hospital’s compassion,” she lamented. The family remains hopeful for a reconsideration of their case.

Deal remarked that they had previously encountered no issues regarding Adaline’s medical treatments, making this situation perplexing and frustrating.

Since sharing their story publicly, the family noted a surge of support directed toward the hospital on behalf of Adaline. However, they maintain that the hospital has yet to provide a formal written denial of Adaline’s application for transplant eligibility. Legal representation has not yet been sought, though the family may soon explore that avenue.

Adaline’s Awareness and Family Resilience

Adaline faces cognitive challenges but possesses a keen awareness of her situation. Jeneen revealed, “She knows something isn’t right. She can sense my distress during this challenging time.” Adaline’s struggles are evident; she often feels unwell, leading to reluctance in participating in everyday activities.

In the face of these hardships, Jeneen finds solace in her faith. “We believe that God will guide us through this ordeal,