Update: Hospital to Meet with Family of Girl Denied Kidney Transplant
Joe and Chrissy Rivera appeared on Philadelphia's CBS News with their side of the story.
Philadelphia’s CBS News is reporting today that the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) will be meeting with the parents of Amelia Rivera, a three-year-old who was initially denied a kidney transplant. Joe and Chrissy Rivera, Amelia’s parents, are scheduled to have a conference call with CHOP today to set up a second meeting with the transplant team.
Amelia’s mother, Chrissy Rivera, said in a blog post that a CHOP doctor said that the sole reason Amelia could not have the kidney transplant is because the little girl, who suffers from a rare genetic disorder called Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome, is intellectually disabled. Ms. Rivera’s blog post went viral among the special needs blogging community, and CHOP was inundated with phone calls, emails, and Facebook page comments.
The hospital is prohibited by privacy law from discussing the individual case, but released the following statement:
“The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia does not disqualify potential transplant candidates on the basis of intellectual abilities. We have transplanted many children with a wide range of disabilities, including physical and intellectual disabilities. We at CHOP are deeply committed to providing the best possible medical care to all children, including those with any form of disability.”
According to local news reports, Ms. Rivera has declined to make any further statements, saying that she “likes CHOP and is still hoping for a happy ending in her daughter’s case.”
Meanwhile, comments keep pouring into the CHOP’s Facebook page, and signatures continue to be added to a change.org petition, requesting the CHOP allow Amelia to have the kidney transplant.
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When I initally read about Amelia being denied a kidney transplant I was appalled. However, when I read Mrs. Rivera’s actual blog it was clear her portrayal of the situation is extremely biased. She readily admits to not paying attention to parts of the conversation, SAW the words “mentally retarted” on a piece of paper & then completely lost control taking her anger out on the doctor. In her blog she states the doctor told her the reason for the denial was due to quality of life. My heart goes out to this family & if it were my child I would fight until her last breath to save her life. But, the media is behaving as if Mrs. Rivera’s account of what happened is 100% accurate & true & that is just not the case.
I have a bone to pick with all the critics of the Rivera family. First of all, a doctor’s appointment is not a court of law with a court reporter furiously transcribing everything that is said. Second of all, Mrs. Rivera got the most important points that the doctor was trying to make. A) Your child is NOT getting a transplant at CHOP, and B) not even if you bring your own kidney. And the social worker’s smug attitude about we’ve heard how CLOSE you are to your child. Wow, what parent who has a child with a disability hasn’t heard that from school staff, etc. As if it’s a crime to want the best for your child, no matter what.
So to all your armchair critics out there, take a pause. The Riveras DO NOT have to meet any of your journalistic criteria. Remember what your mother always said: If you can’t say anything nice…….then shut the hell up. (Sorry, Mom, but some of your kids need strong verbal prompting.)
Totally agreeing with Susan Ford Keller’s above statement….