Adopted Ukrainian Orphan Finally Gets Kidney After Being Denied For Vaccination Status

A Ukrainian teenager adopted by two U.S. Army veterans has finally received a kidney transplant after previously being denied the procedure by Duke University’s medical system because she had not received the COVID vaccine.

Yulia, a Ukrainian orphan adopted by Chrissy and Lee Hicks, has finally received her new kidney and is expected to make a full recovery.

The teenager suffers from a genetic kidney disorder, and was in desperate need of a life-saving kidney transplant, but Duke University’s medical system refused to perform the procedure last year because she was unvaccinated — despite the fact that the procedure constitutes life-saving medical care.

Due to the hospital’s refusal to treat her, Yulia’s family was forced to seek treatment elsewhere — which left them in a tough position to have to pay for expensive medical and travel costs.

Her parents previously recorded a phone call between themselves and Duke Health, where they were informed that Yulia would not receive the surgery until she received the COVID vaccine.

“I can’t require you to do anything. I can recommend these things, but if you don’t follow our recommendations, then Yulia can’t be a transplant candidate here,” a Duke Health kidney specialist reportedly told the Hicks family in the phone call.

“Being unvaccinated to the CDC recommended vaccinations based on her age is part of that,” the kidney specialist added.

The Hicks family, who live in North Carolina, has 11 children, including Yulia — who they adopted from Ukraine in January 2021. They had been working with Duke for over two years for Yulia’s treatment, and had even been performing her daily peritoneal dialysis at home successfully for over a year.

Yulia’s mother previously spoke to then-Fox News host Tucker Carlson about Duke’s refusal to treat her daughter.

Thanks to an outpouring of support for Yulia, a GiveSendGo fundraiser provided the family with hundreds of thousands of dollars to provide the teenager with the medical treatment she needed.

According to an update posted to the fundraiser’s page, Yulia has finally been given her new kidney.

Yulia, who is still unvaccinated, received her kidney transplant at East Carolina University’s medical center.

“Yulia has a new kidney!” the update posted on the morning of May 26th by Yulia’s adoptive parents states.

“Yulia got her new kidney last night. She had an amazing live donor. His initials are JJ. Please pray for his recovery. He is a hero. Yulia is recovering very well,” the update explains.

“We want to thank the entire team at ECUHealth for everything, especially Dr. Leeser, Dr. Romine, Cynthia Stone, and Allyson Ayers…They are the most caring and professional team that we have encountered on this journey,” the update continues.

Yulia’s parents went on to thank the numerous media outlets who reported on their daughter’s story and Duke’s refusal to save her life over the vaccine.

One such outlet was National File, which celebrated the news on Twitter.

“The genocidal maniacs at Duke University have been defeated. Jesus has TRIUMPHED. Yulia has her new kidney and is on the road to a full recovery!” the outlet wrote.

In response to Duke’s actions, the North Carolina state House of Representatives has overwhelmingly voted in favor of “Yulia’s Law” — a bill that prohibits medical discrimination based on COVID vaccine status.

According to the Hicks family, their new focus will be on encouraging the state Senate to pass the bill, and encouraging the governor to sign it. While both chambers of North Carolina’s state legislature have a Republican majority and are expected to approve the bill, the state’s governor is a Democrat and it is unclear whether he will sign it.

“We are now focusing our attention on Yulia’s healing, getting Yulia’s law passed, and the lawsuit with Duke,” the update states.

“Yulia’s law (NC586) has passed the NC House overwhelmingly. It is sitting in the Senate and in danger of not getting passed. Please call the NC legislature asking them to pass this law,” the update continues, adding: “We are also still raising money for legal fees for our lawsuit against Duke. What they did to our daughter was unconscionable.”

“Again thank you all for the love, support, and prayers. To God be the glory,” the update concludes.