Anthony Stokes Heart Transplant Bumped To Top Of List

Anthony Stokes, 15, made headlines this week when it was revealed that soon after falling ill, he’d been denied consideration for a heart transplant by Atlanta’s Children’s Hospital.

According to Anthony Stokes’ mother, the teen was accused of a history of “noncompliance” that precluded him from being a candidate to receive a new heart.

But Stokes had no history of illness, much less treatment, when he fell ill with a life-threatening case of dilated cardiomyopathy.

Without the transplant hope, Stokes would be sent home with medicine and unlikely to survive the condition — which has seriously weakened his young heart.

Stokes’ mother speculated that her young son had been axed from consideration for a heart transplant due to a visit to the ER, during which time the teen was wearing an ankle monitor. Stokes had been in a fight and was punished, but his family said he was sticking up for a bullied relative.

Mom Melencia Hamilton explained:

“He was just fighting. Trying to take up, just trying to take up for his brother because somebody was bullying his brother.”

The case raised some uncomfortable questions about which criteria the hospital’s board used to deny Anthony Stokes the chance to get a new heart — and some suggested that his Medicaid coverage was one factor as well.

But now the hospital has changed course, and as The Inquisitr reported earlier, permitted Anthony Stokes to receive a new heart should one become available.

Not only is Stokes now in line for a heart, he is at the top of the list due to the severity of his condition. Mark Bell, a spokesman for Stokes’ family, confirmed that the teen is first in line for a heart:

“We met with hospital officials about 30 minutes ago. After reviewing the situation, they said Anthony would be placed on the list for a heart transplant and that he would be first in line, due to his weakened heart condition.”

While Anthony Stokes has been added to the list, the hospital would only say that “misinformation” had originally circulated when the controversial decision was reported.