U.S. boy denied transplant due to father’s probation violation gets new kidney

A little boy has finally received a potentially life-saving kidney transplant after his father’s legal problems stopped him from receiving a new organ last month.

A.J. Burgess, who will be 3 in January, was born without kidneys. Mawuli Davis, a lawyer for A.J.’s parents, said they got word Tuesday evening that a kidney from a dead donor was available, and the Georgia toddler had a successful transplant Wednesday morning.

WATCH: Hospital refuses to do father-son kidney transplant due to probation violations

2:10 Atlanta father’s probation violation halts life-changing kidney surgery for 2-year-old son

A.J. had been scheduled to get a kidney from his father, Anthony Dickerson, last month. But the family was surprised when Emory University Hospital said they would have to wait until Dickerson, who’s had a number of run-ins with the law, could show that he had complied with the conditions of his parole for three months.

The hospital, Emery Healthcare, explained at the time why they had put the surgery on hold:

“The Living Donor Transplant Team at Emory has asked Mr. Dickerson for evidence of compliance from his parole officer for the next three months. We will re-evaluate Mr. Dickerson in January 2018 after receipt of his completed documentation.”

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The hospital later acknowledged and apologized for a breakdown in communication with the family.

The family has set up a GoFundMe page for the boy who been “fighting for his life since the day he came into this world.”

— With files from Global News reporter Alley Wilson