A story about a little boy who is in dire need of a kidney transplant is tugging at heart strings. Little A.J. Dickerson was born without a working kidney. The premie spent the first 10 months of his life in neonatal intensive care.
For two years A.J. has been dependent on tube feeding and daily dialysis to keep him alive.
According to his mother, Carmelia Burgess, A.J.’s health is failing and he needs a kidney transplant “as soon as possible” to save his life.
Complicating the story even further is the boy’s ex-con father, Anthony Dickerson, who is a perfect fit for a kidney donation, but he can’t stay out of prison long enough to donate a kidney to his son.
Dickerson was released from prison earlier this year — and he went through pre-op procedures to donate his kidney — only to go right back into prison for violating his probation.
Emory hospital has since declined to perform the complex operation due to Dickerson’s multiple probation violations, according to WGCL-TV’s Karyn Greer.
Dickerson is a repeat felon with an extensive criminal rap sheet that includes armed robbery and possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of multiple felonies.
After Burgess took her story to the local news media, Emory hospital agreed to perform the surgery IF Dickerson can stay out of jail for three months (January 2018).
According to the AJC.com, Emory hospital even requested an early release from jail for Dickerson to perform the necessary blood work and other procedures for the Oct. 3 operation.
“If Mr. Dickerson could be escorted to Emory for blood work and a pre-operative appointment tomorrow, September 29, we will be able to continue with the scheduled surgery,” an Emory official said in the letter dated Sept. 28.
But Dickerson was not released from jail until October 2 — too late to perform blood work and other pre-op for such a complex surgery that was scheduled for the next day.
Not to mention surgery as complex as a kidney transplant would require at least 2 teams of doctors and nurses — one team to remove the kidney from Dickerson and the other team to transplant the kidney into A.J.
It takes time to put such teams together. It simply can not be done in one day.
A.J.’s doctors are better qualified than news reporters to determine whether A.J. can survive until January for his operation.

So.. what’s so hard with the father getting his “act” together so his son can have a better quality of life? Smh
JESUS CHRIST..all of you just do what needs to be done in order to save this sick CHILD!!!
So they just can’t take the kidney and he finish his time? WTF. This world is ate the entire fukk up, I SWEAR!
THIS!! ^^ The fawk is wrong with people??
Ump ump ump… praying for this baby.
Can we get a post about the federal response in Puerto Rico. Namely, the Spa Day that National Disaster Medical System’s disaster reilief ship employees enjoyed while they were supposed to be out there saving lives.
I don’t remember who posted this below, but if you post it, credit that person. Thanks in advance.
Nope there are strict guidelines for who can be a living donor. They have to protect not only the child’s life but his. If he is in and out of jail he may not be able to receive the necessary after care. Plus you have to worry about any infections he may contract while in there.
Enough with the puerto rico story .
Honestly, I’m not really worried about HIM, per se’. It’s more for the baby. If he has a perfect kidney, give it to the baby and do wtf you want afterwards. I really don’t care.
this one hits home for me. i hate to hear that bureaucracy and red tape may be getting in the way of saving a life. best wishes to the family.
i want to be mad at emory–and they fuggin deserve it! but this mofo. it’s HIS CHILD!!! bro, all you got to do is the right thing! emory needs to be the better “person” in all of this though.
SR, your writeup makes a little more sense now because i had to report for pre-op bloodwork and it’s true that they have a certain timeframe for these things to happen. it had to be timed a certain way for whatever reasons, i forgot.
I feel like there is information missing from this story? What does the hospital have to do with what happens to the man AFTER they perform the surgery? If follow up appointments are medically required, even any if he does get locked up, the jail would HAVE to take him to his appointments or face a wrongful death charge. He’s out of jail now. Perform the damn surgery and save that child’s life.
Sadly, the government hasn’t even dealt with the water crisis in Flint, MI. SMH.
THIS!
i was about to say… fugg him! die! and take the other kidney and give it to his son.
Always passing the buck. Stay your dumb azz out of jail! What’s so hard about that? You had rules you had to follow. There was a possibility you would not be out in time for the blood work to be complete. Ignorant MF!!!
I hate to say, but the jail doesn’t have to do anything they don’t want to. They routinely allow inmates to die. I think since it’s a process, he can’t be trusted to keep his tail out of jail.
I just can’t understand the times we’re living in! Compassion people and humanity!! Literally sitting here shaking my head.
Jails are rife with tuberculosis, hepatitis etc. Everytime he goes there he risks his child’s life because the baby already has a compromised immune system. It sucks but he needs to care about his kid as much as you do.
so…. they can’t ‘handle’ him as they would any other inmate who required hospitalization? put him on “house arrest” whilst in the hospital??? (or they thinking he gonna wait ’til they tape up that one remaining kidney and he gonna make a run for it when the recovery room nurses change shifts?) https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9eb2b76e506e38d5072dd1cf3ad262774eb5ffcb7856de93eefa3205f33fbcb1.gif https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5a16feb7886870b58e876a7ffc6b264e7419e743bb55ec579123b82d4a427799.gif
SR’s story is a little better than what’s out there because it talks about the timeline more. i’ve had major surgery and they do explain the shyt. her write-up reminded me all the appointments are scheduled in advance and it’s very systematic. that stupid azz nigro knew what was up but still violated anyway.
I don’t wish death but…….
actually, they could then harvest the other kidney…. j/k… https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5a16feb7886870b58e876a7ffc6b264e7419e743bb55ec579123b82d4a427799.gif
Incorrect. They are required to provide adequate medical service per the Eighth Amendment to the US Constitution. There is case law (US Supreme Court) that clearly defines adequate medical care.
Is all I’m sayin’. LOL
maybe because it’s not pre-existing? i can see if you go in with a certain illness or develop it while in prison but this is different.
Since when does the government follow the Constitution. They do what they want. I know for a fact many an inmate has died in prison regardless of his/her ailment. The Constitution also says people should be from from illegal searches and such, but they routinely dismiss them.
Well, they should hire an attorney. The fact remains that they jail DOES have to do something. There are plenty of cases of people suing because they did not receive medical treatment. Smh.
He was released on October 2nd. He’s not in prison now. So if they perform the surgery and he goes to jail later on, it will be a pre-existing condition? No?
True, they most definitely should sue, but fighting big government isn’t that easy especially if a person cannot afford “the right” attorney. It’s a dang shame!
I wonder if AJ’s name was _______ and he was _______ and his dad was of _________ origin and the mom had ________ skin and __________ hair. AJ would _________________________
#madlibs
#inserthere
The one who’s going to suffer is this poor child. SMH.
in jail you are in the hands of god you can have traffic ticket and be put in a cell with an out of his mind schizophrenic.any kind of sickness you have you might have to hurt somebody just to try to tell somebody you sick
So the tax payers eat the cost for this MF not handling his business? We have no choice to provide this hospitalization for long term jailbirds!
We all do.
You and me both girl. Bureaucratic effery while the poor child suffers. I am so sad/mad right now!!
Poor baby!
right. it’s up to the jail’s MD. plus dude has a clean bill of health. he’s not the one that’s sick.
I know!
My sister was a jail MD. She’s told me horror stories of sending prisons to the ER and their being sent back. SMH.
Aren’t we already doing that? He’s in jail. Three hots and a cot paid for by who, Sway?
Prison MD.
Folks like you kill me with “the tax payers dime” you don’t know where all of your money is being spent. Government been lying for years about how they spend OUR money. Wanna be high and mighty ass. Well this is one operation you gone pay for today. ?
Yeah, they really need a lawyer. How is the ER hospital sending people away.
i think the state of georgia is being sued right now cause one MD was withholding hospital visits. i remember one jail that kept a chick (might be georgia) from ONE PILL–a laxative. didn’t give it to her until too late and chick died from sh!t hardening up in her intestines and i think it busted and she had septic whatever. can you imagine the pain?
They do. She’s had more than one go to the ER. They get checked, decide the issue isn’t emergent and send them back.
Yes they do need a lawyer.
That’s what I’m wondering. I wonder what the parole violation was.
That’s what tf I am saying. People making a million and one excuses, coming with a million and one anecdotal stories, wikipedia legal analysis. I can’t. But if it was a little snow baby up there in that pic, they’d be in here crying a river, signing petitions, etc.
BUT Still how you can’t stay out of jail long enough to save your child life!!! I would want to kick the dads behind too!! Be careful who your procreate with because this here is mess !!
OMG! That poor woman, and no I cannot imagine what she went through. I hope her family members own that hospital! I’m telling you, the hospitals/doctors in this day and age are absolute morons. The hospital killed my mom and almost killed me because after surgery, they didn’t recognize dehydration. SMH!
This is fawked up on so many levels. I don’t give a damn about the dad’s record, especially when the system itself is corrupt as shyt. That baby shouldn’t have to suffer.
The system is major corrupt!
What about post-op appointments? If he’s in jail, how can they follow up? So you’re basically saying that after the surgery, they can follow up while he’s in prison. I don’t know if it works that way.
Im not gonna judge the dad, simply because i dont know of his history, and honestly, I could careless, because it shouldn’t matter. Folks need to keep in mind that the just-us system is screwed. They claim you’re innocent til proven guilty, however, your ass usually has to sit in jail to try to prove it. And a lot of people plead out to lesser charges rather than taking their chances with a jury that is truly NOT of their peers.
Women, stop making babies with d@mn losers! Sh1t not cute!
Right! Out long enough to implant his sperm into a uterus though!
That takes like 3 minutes. Comparing apples to oranges.
People are stepping up to be tested for a match.
Are they???? That’s good to hear. Hopefully they find one
I was watching the news last night and they are stepping up.
Lol always a man hater somewhere.
Hell I watched what is supposed to be a recorded phone call between a caller a donor and planned parenthood rep. He was asking if he could only pay for abortions of black babies and was told yes
They don’t need a match. His father is a match. The hospital is simply rescheduling the surgery for January. It takes time to schedule complicated surgeries. The father is to blame for getting himself arrested.
don’t tell me stuff like this…. wtf?
They already have a match.
it’s a medical procedure. he’s in custody. *shrug*
If that’s the case, his dumb ass can’t be trusted to stay out of trouble until January! Better to find a more suitable, stable match elsewhere.
break it down! we used it to bail out the rich yt S& L’s …a baby can’t get a kidney?????
establishing ‘gofunds’ …FOH!
He doesn’t need a match. What the mother isn’t saying is the original surgery was scheduled months ago. The father is to blame for not staying out of jail. The surgery is now rescheduled for January. The boy will be fine if his no-good father can stay out of jail until then.
Yea, the guy was adamant about paying for a bunch of abortions for one group
they sued and either got paid or it’s still in progress. it wasn’t the hospital, it was the JAIL doctor.
i think it was possession of a weapon.
SMH! I hope they get em good too!
oh well, whatever his agenda may be, it’s already too late, LOL! …we outchea now!
Exactly. People are getting emotional over this loser father screwing up his son’s surgery date. The mother is not telling the whole story. She claims her son’s “life line” is falling out. She’s talking about his feeding tube which can easily be reinserted.
Ok like their pockets are somehow come up short. Complain to the real ppl taking our money the federal government.
I see this story’s making the rounds.
Hope that the father can stay out of trouble, at least till after January. But it would make more sense to look for other donors in the meantime, cause dude’s kidneys might be damaged anyway.
Girl if you were a snow baby you have it all covered by now and a couple of free trips to Disney ? I’m with you.
You dumb MF! I didn’t say we shouldn’t pay for surgery for jailbirds. We pay for surgery for long term jailbirds, which I have no problem with. I have a problem when this ignorant azz clown, can’t stay out of trouble for long enough to help his child!! So yeah make him eat the MF’uckin cost!!! Puta!
The kid shouldn’t have to die, literally paying for the sins of the father. They should find ANOTHER match because dude doesn’t exactly have the best track record.
Sandra, this is the pathetic state of the black community and black people as a whole. Well for the most part. What’s so pathetic about it, is that black women from the ones who work at Popeyes too the future dusty single Parent that are currently at Georgia State University are choosing to procreate with thugs and felons. Count down to 85% of African American women will be single Parents.
But this azz clown didn’t have to be there! He couldn’t follow gd instructions. That’s the point I’m making.. Now it’s cry me a river!
The main problem rests with the father and his inability to stay clean. Let’s say he does go through the process and the surgery is performed which is great for the child. The father would have one kidney and if he ends up in prison again, he would be a medical risk. One punch to the kidney from a fellow inmate and that’s that.
I’m so glad you brought up the feed tube, Sandra. I wondered, “Why don’t they just replace it.” My dad had a feeding tube and that’s what they did for him.
Exactly right. The surgery was scheduled months ago. Then the loser father went to jail. Now the mother is playing the sympathy card because the surgery was rescheduled. The father is to blame, not the hospital.
A.J.’s doctors are better qualified than news reporters to determine whether A.J. can survive until January for his operation.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I pray this baby holds on. Glory to God. But wait one minute. While they are not doctors, no…many a health reporter hold a higher degree than just an undergrad degree. Our former health reporter was a Physician’s Assistant and a registered nurse. Not your regular reporter by far.
What was the violation is all I want to know, did he not call in, was he late on a payment, did he rob somebody else???, what was he put back in jail for…i
I thought he was Clavo Cruz from CSI Miami. This is straight B. S. All these hurdles & conditions. Cap his ass wound him but don’t kill him and save that boy!!! I have CKD stageIV damaged by high blood pressure that was not treated. So please regardless of age keep a check on your BP. Don’t wait for the doc because for years they would say “Wow your BP is high do you take BP medication? Several doctors in various specialists noticed did nothing. Went to Patient First for something totally different. Minutes later all these people running in. Someone said take these (aspirin), started taking blood, hooked me up to EKG. Doc said how do you feel? Then the damn paramedics come in. I was like hey I’m here for a sprain you got the wrong room. Doc said your BP is 200 over something. I can’t let you leave your being transported to the hospital. They could not bring it down it was in the 190’s. I had no headache, no signs. That’s why they call it the silent killer. That’s when I found out about my kidneys. Had a biopsy now just frequent blood work, diet, and BP meds, no dialysis So please please please monitor your BP. Your not too young to have BP issues. Hopefully you can prevent damage to your kidneys. And limit how much ibuprofen you take.
Maybe dude does not want to give his own kid a kidney??? To cowardly to fess up!
Thank you for sharing your story! I’m glad you were at the right place at the right time so that you could receive the proper treatment. ? Well wishes ???
**All over the floor laughing** Your joking right?? Most are run by private companies. Jail is big money. Cheap labor and you leave all your rights at the door. And since when has the government followed laws?? Adequate medical you say? If it ain’t in the first aid kit your ass outta luck.
What about the mom who needed to get her son surgery because of some rare cancer. She broke my heart. Can she get a post? Where is she? Did she find another doctor out the country?
Wow! Thanks for the knowledge.
Thanks
Lifetime has a movie about that coming out soon. Queen Latifah and Jil Scott are in it.
Do you know how hard it is to find a match????
Really when white women go a reality showcasing them being single parents as teenagers. So what if they are working at Popeye’s or Georgia State at least they are working. You had no problem with
Mama June and them not working. Sliding on the kitchen floor in some dayum lard then cooking with it. What the trailer park ghetto hell kind of shyt is that. Ain’t nothing worst than 2 fat white women fighting over a man with no teeth in his moth.
Thanks had to curse out mom. She takes aspirin like it is candy. Doc told her to stop it but she still takes them.
Worked in dialysis centers , it was heartbreaking .
Thank you for spreading knowledge and I hope you feel better .
I wanted to address that person, but didn’t have the energy. You said everything I wanted to say. Thank you.
No problem sick of foolery as if we are the only one’s fyking and everyone else is reading a book.
Exactly. Which is why they should start as soon as possible instead of just giving up all hope. And chill with the sixteen question marks. Calm down.
EXACTLY. THE MOTHER CHOSE A LOSER FOR A FATHER AND MATE. SHE KNEW HE WAS A LOSER FROM THE JUMP B4 SHE STARTED HAVING KIDS BY HIM BUT NOW WANTS TO BLAME THE HOSPITAL. SMH!!! WOMEN HAVE HAVE GOT TO DO BETTER……..JENNY JONES!!!
That blood pressure is serious. My husband ended up with a hemorage stroke due to blood pressure. They were sure his kidneys were going bad but thankfully they were not. So yes…. PLEASE [ESPECIALLY BLACK PEOPLE] GO CHECK YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE AND TAKE IT SERIOUSLY., Luckily my husband survived with minimal side effects [Thanks be to God] but he only found out he had high BP 2 months prior and did not get any meds…. that cost him 3 months in the hospital, in a coma and had to learn how to do everything again. Do let it be you!
This is the most insane thing every, hopefully he can find a lawyer and work with a judge. The Po little baby. he has not one mere strand of “normal” life. He has lived in the hospital most of his life. The powers that be is made he has a child by a black women. Let’s keep it real.
Where did they say that the surgery was scheduled months ago? Your write up and the first write up I read on this are stating two different things. My understanding is that a surgery was never scheduled in the first place.
Why would you say that about the mother. If she’s playing the sympathy card, she has every right to!! She has a very ill child whose life is hanging in the balance. Who deserves a sympathy card more than someone in her position. When your child is facing death and there’s a cure, you won’t give a nmad who’s fault it is – YOU JUST WANT YOUR CHILD TO BE SAVED.
Thank you. My husband of 20 yrs got slapped with two felonies a year before we got married. His rights were violated 10 different ways. He had no defense and pled guilty. It was a non violent crime, he hasn’t got in trouble before or after AND has been an amazing father and husband. My point is, minorities and the poor get totally screwed by this country’s justice system. You can’t always look at a person’s criminal history and form a valid opinion of them.
Thank you for sharing. I get on my husband so bad, they put him on the meds then he wants to listen to the wanna be Dr’s who say oh take this and you don’t have to use your BP meds. We have a 5 yr old and I am like if you don’t want to do it for yourself then do it for him and if that is not enough let me check these insurance papers. People really don’t realize how serious this issue is. My Dr be like we checked you why are you getting checked again because I want to is my answer. I have a real good friend we was at work and luckily we work at the VA but she was like she feel light headed so I was like ok lets go around to the ER to have them check you real quick her BP was in the 200’s and they rushed her out because they couldn’t get it down and they wanted to make sure she didn’t have bleeding on the brain. Luckily she listened to everything they said and is doing better. She has 3 kids and a husband and they was all thankful that I made her go be seen the Dr told her if she didn’t come in she could be dead so that is why this is such a serious matter. And another thing them Dr know they love to give out Motrin. I tell them I can’t take it nor do I take Naprosyn nope won’t do it. You take care and I wish you well. Be Blessed
I’m laughing out loud at how many times SR gone tell people they already have a match….LIKE DAMN….they don’t read! LOL
Well, the facts are….HE WAS OUT….rather he pled or was released…HE WAS OUT….he violated his probation and got right back in….Now the way my mental is set up……SAVE SOME of your DAMN ROBBERY LOOT because you know damn well that’s how they get you. STAWP sending yourself to this very CORRUPT PRISON/SLAVERY SYSTEM….Innocent or guilty. We all know the game by now… If you poor and don’t have bond…then yo azz gone sit until the hearing which can take years….go watch the Kalief Browder story. Now if you have a son that is in need of your Kidney….sit yo azz down somewhere long enough to save his life…
I dont understand how if this is only chance to save is kid and all he has to do is stay out of trouble and he cant do that. He is a POS!!
the daddy needs his asss beat
It is about PRIORITIES. Not actually how many seconds are in 3 minutes. ??
Prayers and blessings
Be a GOOD father and stay out of jail.
Exactly. you know your son needs you and wifey is up in arms due to them not allowing him to give the kidney to his child, however she should be mad at the babydaddy. he doesn’t care about his son’s life enough to remain on a straight and narrow. sounds like someone’s priorities are not intact.
if has has any complications while locked up.. the county/city where he is jailed at will be on the hook for the bill
The father doesn’t deserve a kidney, so whether he’s in jail or not, take him to surgery and take his kidney for his son. Dumbass laws!
So true, but you have to think… The 1st child I understand. But every time he gets out of jail it appears they have another child. Mom needs to make better choices on that too. SHE has the most power since he is a fool…
Dont blame the system….Blame the father….Theyre certain preop that needs to be done prior to a kidney transplant…In a certain amount of time…He needs to be a REAL man and do what he needs to do for his son
Beautiful child. I read about this case on twitter. They need to allow this father to save his kid’s life.
She wanted light skinned kids…
That’s retarded. I get the protocol for such a complicated surgery but if he’s in jail or whatever he should be escorted to the hospital/pre op appointment at least for the child’s sake. As for him, he is also a retard. Dude stay out of jail. Your child’s life is at stake. Obviously Mom doesn’t need his crime money and is taking care of everything by herself. Go on your retard crime sprees after he gets the kidney. I believe regardless of the fact that Dad is a tard there are ways around this so this boy’s life can be saved.
Dam!
Yes blame the system. Whatever they can do out of jail, they can do while he is in jail. Transport the man to the hospital eve in shackles and cuffs and send his back when he is finished. No excuse
Y’all so quick to lose focus. Went from talking about the boy needing a kidney to attacking the mom for having kids. Not even close to the central issue smh.
Easy to play the sympathy card when your son is dying.
Straight up evil ppl on here. “She knew he was a loser.” “She shouldn’t have had kids with him.”
This child is dying. Y’all attack black women every day. Send love this woman’s way. The world is so wicked and y’all feed right into the negativity. Realize that the system that has routinely worked against our black men is now indirectly impacting the future of this little boy.
Probation violations are tricky. He could have missed a report, be behind on fees, etc. Y’all are so quick to judge without being fully educated.
No loss of focus, but a notice about the fact that the father can’t keep himself out of jail (causing a broken home). Also kids are 50% more likely to go to jail or prison if they have a family member there. (horrible example) yet, it appears that the short periods he is out they have another child.
I do sincerely hope they find another donor since the father is trifling
EXACTLY!! That was my point earlier. Based on the original post, surgery was scheduled. The idiot father got caught with a weapon while on probation and now is in jail so his son suffers even more. He’s LITERALLY playing with his son’s life..