'Thanksgiving miracle': Toddler given kidney transplant after hospital refused to use his father’s organ when he was arrested

AJ Burgess' 'now has a chance of a healthy life'

A.J. Burgess from Georgia, in the US, was born without kidneys (Facebook/Mellia Burgess)

A toddler was given a “Thanksgiving miracle” when he was given a kidney transplant after a delay of several weeks.

Two-year-old AJ Burgess, who was born without the vital organs, was set to receive one on 3 October from his father Anthony Dickerson, who doctors described as a "perfect match" for his son.

But he was ruled out as a donor by the team at the Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, when he was arrested over a gun crime and taken into custody for violating his parole.

The hospital ruled that the surgery would be delayed until Dickerson could provide documentation from his parole officer showing compliance for the next three months.

"We will re-evaluate Mr. Dickerson in January 2018 after receipt of this completed documentation," it said in a letter.

The move sparked weeks of campaigning by AJ’s family against the decision that left his life hang in the balance.

After an organ became available from a dead donor, doctors opted to operate and performed the transplant at the hospital.

The surgery was described as “successful” by his mother Carmellia Burgess and AJ is now recovering.

“This is an unexpected Thanksgiving miracle," said Muwali Davis, an attorney for the Burgess family told CNN. “To watch this child that no one expected to live, and now for him to have a chance at a healthy life, it's unbelievable.”

Taking to Facebook after the surgery Ms Burgess wrote: “Surgeons just said … AJ is already making urine. Yes. Lord Show Out.”