WRKC, Eaton, Ohio Eaton veteran Ken Long, 54, has been turned down for a heart transplant at Christ Hospital because he refused to have the COVID-19 vaccination.
Long, who received a congestive heart failure diagnosis about a year ago, thinks the choice is made because of his immunisation history.
“When I decide something, I mean it, and if it takes dying, it’s what it is,” Long said. “It has already caused a great deal of harm,
And they don’t know enough about it. Blood clots have been mentioned. Our individual religious liberties and cardiac problems are nonexistent.
Christina, Long’s wife, initially disapproved of his choice. It’s my spouse. Christina said, “I don’t want to lose my husband.” “I had to gather myself after feeling overburdened and wanting.
To do all in your power to save someone’s life. He is entitled to it. Long currently pumps blood to his heart using a left ventricular assist device (LVAD).
“I am hardly able to accomplish anything. I have to worry about my charger and batteries if the power goes off,” Long said. “You can’t get wet, so showering is an issue.”
The Longs are optimistic that Christ Hospital will change its mind, even though they have the choice to get treatment at another facility that does not need the vaccination.
“I don’t want to die because I got a granddaughter and my wife and everything and my kids, but I believe so hard with not taking the vaccine that I’m willing to die for,” Long said.
Long wants to persuade hospitals to alter their immunisation policy by telling his tale. “I’m 54 years old, but there are kids out there right now that are sick,
And they’re over there with beliefs of not vaccinating, and that’s why I’m doing this,” Long said. “It’s more important for these kids to have the opportunity to live.”
In 2024, the Ohio House filed a measure that would prohibit Ohio hospitals from treating patients unfairly if they choose not to get vaccinations.
Despite passing committee, the measure was never put to a vote by the whole House. In response, the Christ Hospital Health Network issued the following statement:
“At The Christ Hospital Health Network, the goal with any organ transplant is to focus on helping each patient have long-term success and live a long and healthy life post surgery.”
Each person is thoroughly assessed by our knowledgeable, interdisciplinary team of doctors, psychologists, care coordinators, and social workers to ascertain their eligibility and waiting.
List position. Donating an organ is a gift from another patient and their family, and it is our duty to make sure that the gift is utilised as successfully as possible after transplantation.
“Transplant recipients will live with immunosuppression for the remainder of their lives. Vaccines are essential for reducing a patient’s risk of potentially.
Fatal infections, particularly during the first year after a transplant. In accordance with established national criteria for organ transplantation,
Decisions about a patient’s eligibility for transplantation are always made in the patient’s best interest and include talks between our clinicians, the patient, and their family.
