Vice President JD Vance has pledged to assist his distant relative, 12-year-old Adaline Deal, after learning that she was denied placement on a heart transplant list, reportedly due to her unvaccinated status against COVID-19.
Adaline, who suffers from a rare heart defect, requires a transplant to improve her circulation and prevent sudden heart failure. However, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in Ohio has refused to place her on the waiting list because her parents declined to vaccinate her against COVID-19.
Hospital Policy and Family’s Plea for Help
The hospital insists that vaccinations are essential for transplant recipients, who must take lifelong immunosuppressant drugs to prevent organ rejection—leaving them highly vulnerable to infections.
Adaline’s mother, Jeneen Deal, whose son is married to Vance’s half-sister, recently made a public appeal, expressing her fear over her daughter’s uncertain future.
Vance responded in an exclusive DailyMail.com interview, saying:
“We just found out about this a couple of days ago. I guess it’s been circulating on social media, but I was made aware recently, and we’re trying to dig in and help as much as possible. It is a distant relative, but somebody I care about.”
Jeneen expressed hope that Vance’s involvement could bring more attention to the issue and to a bill in Congress that seeks to prohibit hospitals from denying transplants based on COVID-19 vaccination status.
A Family’s Religious Stance on Vaccinations
Jeneen maintains that she is not seeking special treatment—only fair access to life-saving care regardless of vaccination status. She believes medical decisions should be left to families, saying:
“I pray that President Trump and all the states will stand up for everyone facing vaccination status discrimination due to their conscientious and religious beliefs.”
Although Adaline has received some childhood vaccinations—administered before and during her adoption from China—her parents have since declined additional vaccines, including COVID-19 and flu shots, due to their faith-based beliefs.
“We walk with the Lord. The Holy Spirit is on us. We weren’t like that before—we didn’t have a relationship with the Lord like we do now, so it’s different,” Jeneen explained.
Adaline’s Condition and Uncertain Future
Adaline has Ebstein’s anomaly, a defect that prevents her heart valve from functioning properly, causing blood to flow backward. She also suffers from Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome, which triggers abnormally fast heart rhythms.
While Adaline is currently stable, doctors warn that her condition could worsen suddenly. Patients with her condition typically have a shortened life expectancy, with an average lifespan of 37 years.
Her treatment has improved in recent months, with medication like Lasix helping her shed seven pounds of excess fluid from her heart, allowing her to return to school full-time.
“She loves people, and people have been sending her gifts in the mail—she thinks it’s amazing,” Jeneen said.
Next Steps: Seeking Alternative Care
Though one of Adaline’s doctors supports her receiving a transplant without the vaccine, multiple doctors on the transplant team must approve the procedure—an obstacle Jeneen is still working to overcome.
Since Cincinnati Children’s Hospital has not changed its stance, the family is now exploring other hospitals that may accept unvaccinated patients for transplants.
Meanwhile, Adaline remains at risk, waiting for a lifesaving chance that currently remains just out of reach.
