Vice President JD Vance fights for his young relative’s right to a heart transplant, sparking a national debate on medical ethics and religious freedom.
Can you believe this is happening in 21st Century America?
At a Glance
- Adaline Deal, 12, denied heart transplant due to unvaccinated status
- VP JD Vance intervenes to help distant relative get life-saving surgery
- Family cites religious beliefs for refusing COVID-19 and flu vaccines
- Proposed legislation aims to prevent transplant denials based on vaccination
- Case highlights tension between medical protocols and personal beliefs
A Family’s Fight for Life
Vice President JD Vance has stepped into the fray to advocate for his 12-year-old distant relative, Adaline Deal – a young girl adopted from China years ago has been denied a life-saving heart transplant in Ohio due to her unvaccinated status against COVID-19 and influenza.
Yes, this is a real story, if you can believe it.
Adaline suffers from two rare cardiac conditions: Ebstein’s anomaly and Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome. Her health took a dramatic turn for the worse in January when she went into heart failure, necessitating urgent medical intervention. However, the family’s religious opposition to vaccines has created a significant obstacle in their quest for treatment.
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, where Adaline has been treated for nearly a decade, requires transplant patients to be vaccinated. This policy stems from the use of immunosuppressant drugs post-surgery, which can leave patients vulnerable to infections. The hospital’s stance has put it at odds with the Deal family’s deeply held religious convictions.
It’s a tricky situation for everyone involved, but it’s obvious that nobody should be denied life saving care like this. And that’s why the Vice President is stepping in.
Vice President Vance, upon learning of Adaline’s plight through social media, has vowed to assist the family.
“I guess it’s been circulating on social media, but I was made aware of a couple days ago, and we’re trying to dig in and trying to help, obviously, as much as possible,” Vance stated.
“It is a distant relative, but somebody I care about. So we’re trying to figure out exactly what’s going on,” Vance added.
In response to Adaline’s situation, Representatives Erin Houchin and Mike Rulli have introduced the COVID-19 Vaccination Non-Discrimination Act. This legislation aims to prevent transplant denials based on vaccination status, protecting personal and religious medical choices.
“Denying a child a life-saving transplant over a COVID-19 vaccine is not science, it’s cruelty. Hospitals exist to save lives, not impose medical mandates on vulnerable patients. Families deserve the freedom to make the best medical decisions for their loved ones, without fear of being blacklisted from life-saving care. This bill will put an end to this unjust practice,” Representative Houchin declared.
Adaline’s condition remains stable so far – but it could change in a mere moment. With cognitive delays and limited understanding of her illness, the young girl’s life hangs in the balance. Her mother, Jeneen Deal, has expressed gratitude for Vance’s involvement and hopes for swift legislative action to prevent discrimination against unvaccinated patients.
Let’s see what VP Vance can do – and let’s hope it benefits others, too.