News
News

15-year-old gets heart, surgery successful

By
Aug 21, 2013

Anthony Stokes, the 15-year-old DeKalb resident whose family feared he would die if he didn’t get a new heart, is in recovery today after getting a new heart.

Mark Bell, a spokesman for the family, confirmed today that Stokes was in surgery for five hours Tuesday evening.

Just last week, Stokes was in the middle of a national debate after the hospital rejected him as a candidate for a transplant because he had a “history of noncompliance.”

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution first reported on the case on Aug. 12, and the hospital reversed course on Aug. 13, not only placing Stokes on the list to get a transplant, but also making his case a priority.

Stokes suffered from dilated cardiomyopathy, in which the heart’s main pumping chamber, the left ventricle, fails to pump enough blood.

About the Author

Ernie Suggs is an enterprise reporter covering race and culture for the AJC since 1997. A 1990 graduate of N.C. Central University and a 2009 Harvard University Nieman Fellow, he is also the former vice president of the National Association of Black Journalists. His obsession with Prince, Spike Lee movies, Hamilton and the New York Yankees is odd.

Follow Ernie Suggs on facebookFollow Ernie Suggs on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

The GBI is investigating an officer-involved shooting Saturday night, saying that an officer shot a man who pointed a gun at police. The man, identified as Volanta Lejuan Walker of Douglasville, is suspected of killing his wife, who was laying in the yard near Walker when police arrived, the GBI said. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

GBI probes officer-involved shooting, woman’s death in Douglasville

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says an officer shot a man identified as the suspect in his wife's death after the suspect pointed a gun at police.

GBI announces new charges against South Georgia funeral home director

A Coffee County funeral home director arrested after officials found 18 decomposing bodies while he was being evicted now faces 38 new charges amid an ongoing investigation.

‘She sparked a movement’: Atlanta primatologists reflect on Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall, who died Wednesday at age 91, said: "What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”

The Latest

Tucker resident Amy Bielawski, who runs Hare-Brained Productions, prepares to work at a fall festival.

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

A.M. ATL: Health care hikes

A.M. ATL: Recess, in recession

A.M. ATL: Two years later

Featured

Amy Bielawski, who runs Hare-Brained Productions, prepares to work at a Fall Festival in Stone Mountain on Oct. 4, 2025. Bielawski is worried she may not be able to afford health care through Georgia Access when subsidies expire. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

Massive ACA price hikes revealed as Georgia Access window shopping opens early

Some premium prices are more than tripling as ACA pandemic-era subsidies expire nationwide. The issue prompted the congressional shutdown.

Here’s what could replace Midtown’s Cheetah Lounge strip club

The plan to demolish one of Atlanta’s most famous strip clubs to make way for a high-rise student housing tower is starting to come into focus.

Paulding student, 6, found unresponsive in pool during field trip

A staff member noticed around noon Wednesday that the McGarity Elementary student was missing, authorities say.