Posted: Nov 16, 2010 9:10 PM
Updated: Nov 17, 2010 9:04 AM
PHOENIX - A father of four is fighting for his life again after being turned away for his liver transplant Tuesday.
32-year-old Francisco Felix was prepped and ready for a new liver after a family friend who promised the liver passed away.
But the family was told Tuesday that they needed to come up with the surgery costs of about $200,000 dollars in just a matter of hours.
Felix's chance for a transplant passed, and the liver went to another patient.
"I don't think there's any way we can find $200,000 dollars in two hours," a family member said.
Hospital officials said it is because of budget cuts to state funded medical programs that the surgery is no longer covered.
"A liver transplant can cost up to a half million dollars and we have 22 other patients that are in a similar situation as Mr. Felix and we simply cannot absorb the costs associated with a total of 23 patients," said Bill Byron with Banner Health.
Felix is only expected to survive another one to two years without a transplant.
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