Young girl denied life-saving care due to vaccination status: mom

A mother is speaking out after she says her 12-year-old daughter, Adaline, was denied a place on the heart transplant list at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital because of her vaccination status. Adaline, who was adopted from China by Brayton and Jeneen Deal, was born with two heart conditions that now require a transplant.

The Deals shared their emotional journey in a GoFundMe campaign, revealing that they were initially told by the adoption agency to choose another child because Adaline’s heart condition was so severe that she wasn’t expected to survive. However, they continued to support her, and when they returned home with another adopted child, they believed Adaline had passed away as the agency had stopped taking funds out of their account.

After starting the adoption process a second time, the Deals discovered that Adaline was still available for adoption and brought her home. Despite her medical challenges, Adaline excelled in their care. However, her health has started to decline in recent months, and she now requires a heart transplant.

The family was shocked when they were informed by doctors at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital that Adaline needed to receive the COVID and flu vaccinations in order to be placed on the transplant list. As the Deals have strong beliefs against vaccinations, they requested a religious exemption, which was denied by the hospital citing its transplant policy based on recommendations from the National Institute of Health (NIH).

Stephanie Stock, president of Ohio Advocates for Medical Freedom, criticized the hospital’s policy as discriminatory, emphasizing the injustice of denying a child a life-saving transplant based on their vaccination status. Despite the family’s efforts to plead with the hospital, they have not been successful in changing their minds.

Since sharing their story, the family has received overwhelming support from the community, with many advocating on behalf of Adaline. The hospital has yet to provide a written denial, and legal action has not been pursued at this time.

Adaline, who is cognitively delayed, is aware of her declining health and her mother’s distress. Despite the challenges they face, the family remains hopeful and faithful, trusting that they will overcome this difficult situation with the help of their faith.

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital responded to the situation, emphasizing that their clinical decisions are based on science, research, and best practices to ensure the safest and most effective treatment for each patient.

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to support Adaline’s heart transplant process, as the family continues to navigate this challenging journey. Adaline’s story serves as a reminder of the importance of compassion, understanding, and advocacy for individuals facing medical crises.