This man reportedly needs a lifesaving organ transplant and he claims he will not get the COVID-19 vaccine, despite a hospital refusing to do the transplant without it. The man, who is unvaccinated, believes the vaccine should be a choice and no one should be forced to get it. The man also said he’s had COVID twice and doesn’t believe he needs the vaccine.
The man from North Carolina, Chad Carswell, is reportedly looking at other hospitals to see if they’ll perform the surgery.
According to reports, Carswell is a double amputee and has undergone major heart surgeries. Unfortunately, his kidney (only functioning at 4%) has him in need of a transplant. He is currently undergoing dialysis three times a week.
Chad Carswell reportedly said: “Without a transplant, there’s no telling how much longer I’ll still be here. I have to have a kidney to prolong my life.”
He also said that his friends and local businesses raised money for the transplant and more than 100 people have offered to donate a kidney to him.
Unfortunately, when he went for scans and tests at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in North Carolina, Carswell learned he and anyone who wanted to donate would be required to be fully vaccinated before the surgery.
Chad Carswell reportedly said: “He said, ‘The last thing we need to talk about is your vaccination status.’ And that’s when I politely told him there was nothing really to talk about it, it wasn’t up for debate [and] that I wasn’t getting it. Then, he told me, ‘You know you’ll die, if you don’t get it.’ And I said, ‘I’m willing to die.'”
Chad also said that he contracted COVID-19 twice and doesn’t believe he needs the vaccine.
Chad also said that getting the vaccine is a choice and no one should be forced to get one, even if it means he can’t get his much-needed transplant.
Chad Carswell reportedly said: “I was born free. I will die free. I’m not changing my mind. I’ve had conversations with my family and everybody that’s close to me. They know where I stand, and it’ll not be a situation that occurs that I will choose to change my mind on this topic.”
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital released the following statement:
“The reason it is recommended is to provide protection for the patient. Transplant patients are at high risk for severe illness if they don’t have preexisting immunity prior to being transplanted.
We understand that some patients may not wish to be vaccinated. In this case, patients can opt to be evaluated at another transplant center.”
Right now, Chad is reportedly looking at other hospitals to see if they’ll perform the surgery. This is a developing story and it will be updated as new information become available.