10-year-old Atlanta girl fighting for new heart
ATLANTA - The family of a 10-year-old metro Atlanta girl whose heart is failing and community activists met with the CEO of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston, but the news is not good.
"The heartbreak of this morning's meeting is to learn that in fact that while in fact last December she was fine and healthy. Her health has declined to the state that she is no longer eligible, And that is heartbreaking, " activist Derrick Boazman stressed.
Anijah Dixon was born with a heart defect. Last December, she was put on the heart transplant list. In July, the 10-year-old was admitted to Children's Healthcare in Atlanta in Eggleston and has been waiting for months.
"She's been a fighter all her life and she's still willing to fight this battle," Anijah's mother Sophia Dixon said.
Right before Thanksgiving, however, her mother says doctors gave the young girl some grim news.
"The day before Thanksgiving they were given a letter unceremoniously by the administrators here that said no only is she no longer on the transplant list, but that there is nothing else they are willing to do for her," community activist Derrick Boazman said.
RELATED: Supporters protest Atlanta girl's removal from hospital's heart transplant list
After she received that news, Anijah's mother says her daughter has withdrawn.
"She's very aware of what's going on with her. And the thought of her not continuing to have life, it disturbs her very badly," she said. "She doesn't like to talk about it."
The family and an attorney are now searching for a doctor to help save the young girl's life. They have found a doctor who is willing to examine her in Nashville, but it required her being readmitted to the hospital.
After a series of meetings with doctors, Anijah was readmitted to Children's Healthcare. CHOA officials informed the family that Aniyah will not be able to travel to Nashville for treatment. In fact, she will spend Christmas in the hospital.
In a statement to FOX 5, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta said that they "would never deny care to any child in need of medical attention who arrives at one of our facilities."
A statement released Friday from the hospital said in part, "Children's is among the nation's leading pediatric heart transplant programs. In what we do, there are times where we have to have difficult conversations with families."