US Vice President JD Vance has stepped in his 12-year-old distant relative medical case and is looking into ways to help out her as she was refused a heart transplant in Ohio due to her unvaccinated status against COVID-19 and influenza.
Adaline Deal, adopted from China at age four, was born with two rare cardiac conditions: Ebstein’s anomaly and Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome.
Vance informed the Daily Mail about his recent awareness of Adaline’s situation, stating: “I guess it’s been circulating on social media, but I was made aware of a couple days ago, and we’re trying to dig in and trying to help, obviously, as much as possible.”
The familial connection exists through Adaline’s adoptive brother Jacob Deal, who is married to Vance’s half-sister, Chelsea.
Her heart condition deteriorated as she grew, leading to heart failure in January. Her mother, Jeneen Deal, expressed gratitude for Vance’s support and hopes the Trump administration will advocate for legislation protecting unvaccinated individuals from hospital discrimination.
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, where Adaline received treatment for nearly ten years, requires transplant patients to be vaccinated due to the necessity of immunosuppressant drugs post-surgery.
The family, identifying as nondenominational Christians, declines vaccination based on religious convictions. Jeneen Deal explained: “We’re just in a different way. [We] walked with the Lord. The Holy Spirit is on us. We weren’t like that – we didn’t have a relationship with the Lord like we do now, so it’s different.”
Although Adaline received vaccinations in China and during adoption, she hasn’t been immunised since. While one transplant team doctor approved her surgery despite vaccination status, unanimous approval from the entire team is required.
The situation has prompted legislative action, with Representatives Erin Houchin and Mike Rulli introducing the COVID-19 Vaccination Non-Discrimination Act on February 14. The bill aims to prevent transplant denials based on personal or religious medical choices.
Houchin stated: “Denying a child a life-saving transplant over a COVID-19 vaccine is not science, it’s cruelty. Hospitals exist to save lives, not impose medical mandates on vulnerable patients. Families deserve the freedom to make the best medical decisions for their loved ones, without fear of being blacklisted from life-saving care. This bill will put an end to this unjust practice.”