Where are the “Pro-Lifers” When a Born Child Needs Them?

by David Safier

A poignant, heartbreaking story ran in The Explorer this week, Sick child gets help from area politicians. The whole story is worth reading, but here’s the gist:

Dustin, a three year old, needs a kidney transplant to survive a rare genetic condition. The family qualifies for AHCCCS (Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System) which will pay for the operation, but before Dustin can get the operation, he needs to have a medical consult along with a few tests, which, for ridiculous bureaucratic reasons, AHCCCS won’t pay for. The out-of-pocket costs could be as high as $3,800, and no one will see the child until the family can guarantee it has the money. Democrats Nancy Young Wright, State Legislator from LD-26, and Don Jorgensen who, along with Young Wright, is running for the legislature from LD-26 (there are two slots, so they’re not running against each other) heard about the problem and decided to do something. Jorgensen gathered donations, and he gave Wade Heatherly, Dustin’s father, a $3,800 check to be deposited in a special account, the Dustin Heatherly Medical Fund.

[Full disclosure: I’m an LD-26 Dem who is working with the Democratic candidates. I contacted the media to let them know about this and took the photo at right that was used in The Explorer.]

One part of the story, however, was not included in the article. Dustin’s parents were told by doctors that Dustin was likely to be born with this genetic condition, and they were given the option to terminate the pregnancy. They refused. (Dustin’s father told this to the reporters, so it isn’t something I learned in confidence.)

So here is my question. Why hasn’t Dustin been embraced by the anti-abortion movement? His parents made exactly the choice these groups advocate, to refuse the option of an abortion, and those who believe the family made the only moral decision should help support Dustin and his family by contributing money and possibly other kinds of assistance. In fact, the people who adopted the family’s cause are a couple of progressive Democrats who believe no one should go without needed health care (expanding Arizona’s health care coverage is one of Jorgensen’s key issues). Jorgensen has promised to keep raising money to help with the continuing expenses related to Dustin’s condition.

Is it true what some people say, that the “Pro-Life” crowd’s concern for children ends at birth?

I’m firmly in the Pro-Choice camp. That means I believe the family should have been given the information about Dustin’s potential genetic problems and the choice to either terminate the pregnancy or carry it to term, which is exactly what happened. They chose to have the baby, and though it has caused them a great deal of personal hardship, they do not regret it. It’s not my place to judge their decision one way or another. All I know is, a child is in need of a life saving operation, and our health care system is too broken to do what needs to be done. An additional, maddening absurdity is that Dustin’s father is skilled, able bodied and wants to work, but if he does, he’ll lose the AHCCCS coverage for Dustin’s operation.

Maybe I’m being too harsh on the anti-abortion crowd. Maybe they simply don’t know Dustin’s story. If that’s true, here it is. Someone who is connected with any of these groups, please get in touch with them. They can join together with progressive Democrats to make sure Dustin and his family get the help they need.

Note: If you want to help the family, you can write a check to the “Dustin Heatherly Medical Fund” and take it to any Bank of America branch, which will deposit your donation in the account set up for that purpose.