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.”