Father Violated Probation

The only thing worse than being denied an organ for something you’ve done is being denied for something someone else did. That’s what happened to two-year-old AJ Burgess. Carmellia Burgess told WXIA-TV that her son, A.J., was born without kidneys and requires a transplant. Anthony Dickerson, the boy's father, is a perfect match and wishes to give his son this lifesaving gift.

The surgery was scheduled for Oct. 3, but an Emory University Hospital official informed Burgess that it would be postponed until Dickerson could demonstrate that he had complied with the terms of his parole for three months. Dickerson has a history of running afoul of the law and was arrested last month for violating his probation, according to WXIA-TV.

That didn't appear to be a problem at first. Emory's Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Program requested his temporary release in a letter to the Gwinnett County jail. But then Burgess received a letter from the hospital saying the surgery would be delayed until Dickerson can provide documentation from his parole officer showing compliance for the next three months.

Janet Christenbury, an Emory spokeswoman, said that privacy regulations prevent her from providing specific information about the hospital's patients. She also declined to comment on how a criminal record might affect an organ donor's eligibility.