Richmond family asks for donors as son battles sickle cell disease

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A Richmond family is hoping their son’s story can spark attention for potential blood donors as Sickle Cell Awareness Month continues.

Four-year-old Zion Ortiz suffers from Hemoglobin SS, the most common and severe case of sickle cell anemia. His mother, Taniqua Bates, said he’s battled one health scare after another — saying it’s one of the worst fears a parent can go through.

“All moms know what it’s like to watch your kids struggle, suffer in pain, it’s been rough,” Bates said.

At eight months old, Ortiz suffered a stroke. This caused a secondary illness called moyamoya, a disease that causes blood vessels to be very thin. Since then, he’s had more stroke-like events, including a health scare at Celebree School of Henrico County in August.

“My heart was racing,” said father Andre Ortiz. “I was scared, because I know we had something similar previously, so I know the protocol. So once the wife called me, I immediately got in the car and headed to the hospital.”

While monthly blood transfusions and iron chelation therapy currently keep Zion’s pain stable, his parents are looking for a bone marrow transplant to help him live a long and full life.

“Zion carries us,” Bates said. “He has the disease, but he carries the load for us. He hardly ever cries, he’s just amazing . The resources and the things that are out there for sickle cell, it’s just so small. We just need to shine a light on a sickle cell.”

Ortiz’s father hopes more people join in the fight.

“It’s not something that’s going to harm you and the lives that would be saved is worth it,” Ortiz said.”

Those who are interested can check out the National Merit Donor Program to help those in need.

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