Reader: Autistic Pennsylvania Man Deserves Heart Transplant

To the Editor:

Editor's Note: This letter addresses the Pennsylvania woman whose son was not recommended for a heart transplant, according to a Washington Post article, "from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania last summer over what it said were concerns about his 'psychiatric issues' and 'autism,' among other factors."

Karen Corby has started an online petition to get her autistic 23-year-old son Paul a lifesaving heart transplant. He was denied the transplant because of the disability her son has.

Read the change.org petition to the U.S. Congress here.

He should be on the transplant list for a heart. I want to raise awareness for this adult. If Paul doesn't get his heart transplant, he could very most likely die without this treatment. People like Paul, including his mom, Karen, deserve support throughout this whole thing.

It is between life and death that he gets this surgery. I would like to get my  point across that no matter that what disability you have, it is worth the chance to fight to stay alive. 

His heart transplant should be a number-one priority because with this surgery, he can get better, and it also could help save his life. He should get this life-saving treatment. I give my support to Paul and his mom. I hope she gets her voice heard. And she could still have her son alive. 

Please  give him and his mom closure by doing his life-saving operation that will save his precious life. That's what he needs. He will fight to stay alive. I wish Paul and his mom Karen the best throughout this hard time.  

I hope that he will get his treatment that will help him.

Billy Mark Prevatte, Middletown