Yulia Hicks: NC hospital denies kidney transplant to girl, 14, for not getting Covid jab as mom seeks help
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA: A North Carolina family has asked for help as their 14-year-old adopted daughter who has been suffering from a rare genetic kidney condition, was denied a kidney transplant by Duke University hospital for not being vaccinated against Covid-19. In January 2021, Yulia Hicks was adopted by Lee and Chrissy Hicks from Ukraine. They were aware that she had a rare kidney condition known as Senior Loken Syndrome, which would eventually mean she required a transplant.
The parents were, however, told on November 11 that she was not eligible for Duke's waiting list because she was not vaccinated against Covid. "There's no sympathy whatsoever from any of them," said Chrissy Hicks, according to Daily Mail. "It's just strong-arming us: give her the vaccine, and you'll get the transplant." She said they had contacted a lawyer, but "can't have her life hanging in the balance with litigation" and were seeking a transplant at another hospital.