'I feel like my life is being held in their hands in exchange for a shot': Woman, 56, suffering from Stage-5 renal failure is REFUSED kidney transplant because she and donor friend are unvaccinated

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A Colorado woman suffering from stage-5 renal failure was denied a new kidney because both she and her prospective donor are unvaccinated. 

The University of Colorado Health hospital sent a letter to Leilani Lutali, 56, who was set to receive a kidney from Jaimee Fougner, 45, informing her that the procedure could not be done until both women were vaccinated against COVID-19.  

'I feel coerced. I feel like my life is being held in their hands in exchange for a shot, and the attitude is just take the shot,' Lutali told Denver7.  

Fougner told CBS, 'Here I am, willing to be a direct donor to her. It does not affect any other patient on the transplant list. How can I sit here and allow them to murder my friend when I've got a perfectly good kidney and can save her life?'  

Leilani Lutali, left, was set to receive a new kidney from her friend, Jaimee Fougner, when the women suddenly found out the procedure would be halted because they are unvaccinated

Lutali faces stage five kidney failure and would be removed from the organ recipient list if she fails to get the vaccine within 30 days 

According to UCHealth, located in Aurora, the majority of transplant recipients and living donors are now required to be vaccinated to avoid organ rejection. 

Lutali and Fougner met late last year during Bible study, and just a few months later, Fougner made the choice to donate her kidney to her ailing friend. 

Fougner said she has not received the vaccine for religious reasons, and Lutali hasn't gotten the shot because she says there are 'too many unknowns.' 

The women claim they were not informed about the hospital's policy until it was too late.   

'At the end of August, they confirmed that there was no COVID shot needed at that time,' Lutali said. 'Fast forward to September 28. That's when I found out. Jamie learned they have this policy around the COVID shot for both for the donor and the recipient.' 

In the letter sent to Lutali, the hospital informed her that she would be placed on a waiting list for 'non-compliant by not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.' The hospital has given them 30 days to begin the vaccination process or be removed from the kidney transplant list. 

The UCHealth hospital denied Leilani Lutali the chance to get a new kidney because of her unvaccinated status. She is currently listed as inactive on the organ waitlist

The Aurora-based hospital said it would be requiring a majority of transplant recipients and living donors to be vaccinated to avoid organ rejection or recipient death due to COVID

'I said I'll sign a medical waiver. I have to sign a waiver anyway for the transplant itself, releasing them from anything that could possibly go wrong,' Lutali explained. 'It's surgery, it's invasive. I sign a waiver for my life. I'm not sure why I can't sign a waiver for the COVID shot.' 

U.S. Rep. Tim Geitner of Colorado called the ordeal 'incredibly frustrating, incredibly sad, incredibly disgusting' in a statement on Tuesday. 

UCHealth Spokesperson Dan Weaver said the hospital would not comment on any specific case, but said it was common for transplant patients to be asked to meet specific conditions before, during and after surgery. 

US Rep. Tim Geitner shared a copy of the letter Lutali received and criticized the hospital's decision, calling it 'incredibly disgusting'

'For example,' Weaver wrote in a statement, 'patients may be required to receive vaccinations including hepatitis B, MMR and others. Patients may also be required to avoid alcohol, stop smoking, or prove they will be able to continue taking their anti-rejection medications long after their transplant surgery. These requirements increase the likelihood that a transplant will be successful and the patient will avoid rejection.' 

Weaver added that transplant patients who are not vaccinated against COVID face a higher mortality rate of 20 to 30 per cent. 

'Should they become infected, they are at particularly high risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death,' Weaver said. 'A living donor could pass COVID-19 infection on to an organ recipient even if they initially test negative for the disease, putting the patient's life at risk.' 

But Fougner and Lutali said the risk did not matter to them as Lutali nears total kidney shutdown. The life expectancy for those with stage-5 kidney failure is about five to 10 years while on dialysis treatment, according to the National Kidney Foundation. 

An estimated 17 people die every day waiting for an organ.  

'It's your choice on what treatment you have. In Leilani's case, the choice has been taken from her. Her life has now been held hostage because of this mandate,' Fougner told CBS. 

The women said they have not been able to find a hospital in Colorado that will do the transplant while unvaccinated and said they are now looking at other states.