Patient With Autism Is 'Unsuitable' For Lifesaving Heart Transplant So Nurse Decides To Adopt Him

Nov 11, 2019 by apost team

Almost all medical professionals are aware that, at times, red tape prevents them from giving their patients the best care. Such was the case for Nurse Lori Wood and her patient, Jonathan Pinkard.

In December of last year, Jonathan was hospitalized at Piedmont Newnan Hospital in Newnan, Georgia following a fall at work. It was there that the 27-year-old man, who also has autism, was told that he needed a heart transplant. Despite this grave necessity, Jonathan was informed that he was ineligible for the procedure. As explained by the United Network for Organ Sharing, patients can only be eligible for organ transplants if they have access to the necessary post-op care. In Jonathan’s case, his mother was in rehab and his grandmother, who had taken care of him for much of his life, had died in 2012. Jonathan was also judged to be unable to care for himself due to his autism.

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While in the hospital’s intensive care unit, Jonathan had his first meeting with Nurse Wood. Hearing of his plight, Nurse Wood became heartbroken, determined to help him get the treatment for his condition. Speaking with reporters from CBS News, Nurse Wood said that she knew in her heart that she had to help Jonathan. Having only known him for two days, Nurse Wood asked Jonathan if she could adopt him. By becoming his legal guardian, Nurse Wood would be able to help Jonathan with his post-op care and make him eligible for the heart transplant. Jonathan readily accepted Nurse Wood’s offer.

Nurse Wood and Jonathan quickly bonded when Jonathan moved into her house. The two share a great love for football and game shows, particularly Family Feud. Speaking with reporters from TODAY, Nurse Wood says that Jonathan is a very loving person and a good patient. In addition to taking him to his doctor’s appointments, Nurse Wood also makes sure that Jonathan takes all his medication, which amounts to 34 pills a day.

Nurse Wood is also helping Jonathan learn to live independently. Wood has been teaching Jonathan how to improve his credit score and other valuable life skills. An appreciative Jonathan is finishing up his post-op care and is looking forward to returning to his former job as an office clerk. Looking forward to the future, Jonathan will never forget Nurse Wood, who he says treated him like a son according to CBS News.

What do you think of how Nurse Wood adopted Jonathan so that he could get his heart transplant? What would you do in a similar situation? Let us know in the comments and be sure to pass this article along to others.