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SOCIAL WORKERS WHO SAY THEY TRY TO HELP THE FAMILY. >> ACCORDING TO DOCUMENTS, CYFD FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS AFTER THE DOCTOR REPORTED THAT THE BOY HAD MISSED APPOINTMENTS. THE DOCTOR SAYS PARENTS DIDN’T GIVE HIS MEDICATION, WHICH COULD HAVE KILLED HIM. A TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT NOT TAKING THEIR MEDICATIONS -- >> THEY ARE SENTENCING THEMSELVES TO DEATH. >> ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS, THE PARENTS WERE ARRESTED FOR FAILING TO TAKE THEIR ONE-YEAR-OLD SON TO DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS. THE BOYS PARENTS DIDN’T GIVE THEIR’S HI MEDICATIONS, WHICH TRANSPLANT EXPERTS SAY IS CRITICAL. >> THE NEED TO CONTINUE TAKING ANTIREJECTION MEDICATION, WHICH KEEPS YOUR BOD FROM REJECTING THE ORGAN. >> THE BOYS DR REPORTED THE FAMILY WAS MISSING APPOINTMENTS. WHEN POLICE WENT TO CHECK ON THE FAMILY, CYFD WAS NOTIFIED. THE TRANSPLANT EXPERT WE SPOKE WITH IS NOT DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THIS CASE BUT SAYS SITUATIONS LIKE THESE ARE DRASTIC. >> IS VERY DISHEARTENING TO HEAR OF A SITUATION IN WHICH A PERSON WHO RECEIVED A TRANSPLANT IS NOT TAKING CARE OF THE ORGAN. IT IS EXTREMELY PRECIOUS. >> A SPOKESPERSON WITH THE SAN JUAN DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE TOLD ME THE ONE-YEAR-OLD AND HIS BROTHER ARE IN CUSTODY OF THE STATE AND STAYING WITH A FAMILY MEMBER. THE ONE-YEAR-OLD IS IN GOOD HEALTH. LIVE IN ALBUQUERQUE, KOAT ACTION SEVEN. >> T

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A child who had a liver transplant missed several doctors' appointments and didn't get his medication, and now his parents are charged with child abuse.According to court documents, Kyla and Jason Witterman were arrested on Monday for failing to take their 1-year-old son to his medical appointments after he had a liver transplant in April 2018. Court documents say the boy's parents also didn't give their son his medications, which transplant experts say is critical after the surgery. The Wittermans are both charged with child abuse. "They are basically sentencing themselves to death," said Maria Sanders, an educator with New Mexico Donor Services. "They need to continue taking anti-rejection medication, and the anti-rejection medications keeps your body, the person who receives the transplant, from rejecting that valuable organ that was transplanted to them." Documents show that the boy's doctor reported to authorities that the family was missing appointments. It wasn't until police went to check on the family at their San Juan County home that the New Mexico Children, Youth & Families Department was notified of the situation. While Sanders isn't directly connected to this case, she said situations such as this are drastic. "It's very disheartening to hear about situations where a person who receives a transplant isn't taking care of that organ," Sanders said. "It is an extremely precious gift." A spokesperson with the San Juan District Attorney's Office told KOAT that the 1-year-old and his 13-year-old brother are in state custody and currently staying with a family member. The is reportedly in good health. Currently, there are about 48 infants in the country waiting for a liver transplant.