Red tape delays kidney transplant for disabled veteran
LEANDER, TX - Getting an organ transplant is difficult enough. Racing time, waiting on the donor list, finding a match- Now the VA is making it even harder for a disabled veteran in Texas to get the kidney transplant he desperately needs.
Charles Nelson already has a match: his 28 year-old son wants to donate his kidney to save his father's life, but his family just found out that the VA Choice program won't cover the necessary surgery because the DONOR isn't a veteran.
The only way they would pay for the transplant is if it's performed at the VA hospitals in Portland, Oregon or Nashville, Tennessee.
Charles Nelson will now be using Medicare to pay for his June 9th surgery at University Hospital in San Antonio. Still, the Nelsons believe the VA should be the ones paying.
People can help by contacting their representatives - to ask the VA to change their policies. The Nelsons will keep fighting to help other veterans in similar situations. Our veterans deserve better.