http://www.komonews.com/news/40326812.html

"There is a $1.5 million price tag on 2-month-old Laith Dougherty's life. That's how much it will cost to give him the new heart he so desperately needs."

This story is just heart breaking.  This poor baby is a mere 2 months old.  To save his life is going to cost $1.5 million.  His parents have insurance, but it doesn't cover transplants.  They can't receive assistance.  Want to know why?  Their income is too high.  So because their income is too high, they can't receive assistance on a $1.5 million heart transplant that is the only hope of survival for their son.  Are you with me so far?  

Ok, good.  The hospital that's caring for their son doesn't preform the surgery.  The closest hospital actually will need the full $1.5 million in full upfront.  Ok...  How many people do you know that have $1.5 million just laying around?   You would think that the hospital would be a little more compassionate.  After all, it is the life of a child hanging in the balance.  Nope.  Here's their statement.

"It pains us to be in a position where we cannot provide health care services to all children who need them. We receive requests for financial support from families throughout the world and unfortunately do not have funds to care for every child in need.

We are committed to providing health care to children in the WAMI region (Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho) regardless of a family’s ability to pay. Unfortunately we do not have the funding to make the same commitment to children outside our four-state area. Patients who live outside our region are encouraged to work with their insurance company and members of their communities to raise the money needed to be seen at Children’s.

Children’s provided more than $86 million in un- and under-compensated care in FY 07/08 and that number is expected to grow to more than $100 million in FY 2009."

Ok.  So I can kind of see where they are coming from.  Unfortunately, they are doing this all at the cost of a child's life.  

The parents are looking for donations.  There isn't much time left.  http://laithdougherty.info/

I couldn't imagine being in those parents' position nor would I want to.  I hope that some miracle comes through for them.  I hope that some caring soul picks up the tab for the surgery.  I hope that some person restores faith in human kindness.  So far, no luck.

"Really, at any moment if he were to get an infection, if anything were to change, he wouldn't survive," said Ghadah Makoshi, the baby's mother.