Bonded by a bone marrow transplant, Kenner mother searches for blood donors for her son

KENNER, La. (WGNO) — A Kenner family is on the hunt for blood donors as the health of a little boy is at risk.

“I don’t think any mother wants to see their child go through this type of cancer. And it’s a very aggressive cancer,” said Lidia Martinez.

WGNO viewers first met 2-year-old Hezekiah Martinez and his mother, Martinez, back in August 2024.

The toddler was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a rare and aggressive cancer.

Since then, he’s endured multiple blood transfusions, chemotherapy and other treatments in hopes of curbing the cancer.

“As a family, we’re holding it together, and we’re praying and hoping that he comes out of it for the time,” said Martinez.

The search was on for a bone marrow donor. Doctors searched through the national database but came up empty-handed.

“It tore me apart. It was something that was very scary. As a family, it was something that we didn’t know where to go,” said Martinez.

Then, the miracle news they had been hoping for, doctors found a match, with someone very close to Hezekiah.

“They looked at me with this sparkle in their eyes, they’re like ‘you’re the match.’ I can’t tell you the relief of a mom to just listen to those words,” said Martinez.

She traveled over 800 miles to Kansas City for the procedure. It took place on Feb. 4, a day with a new special meaning for Hezekiah.

“When a kid undergoes a transplant over here, we celebrate it and say it’s a new life. That’s his second birthday, Feb. 4, and that day we will always celebrate,” said Martinez.

Nearly three weeks post-op, she thanks the staff at the hospital, her family and those who have supported her.

However, Hezekiah’s journey to health is far from over.

“In order for him to get through this transplant, we actually need about a pint of blood almost every day,” said Martinez.

He’s one step closer to walking out of the hospital, with the woman who saved his life, his mother.

Yet, more blood donors are needed to make it a reality.

“Just to know that one day he will walk out through these doors, that he will walk out of here. It brings joy to my heart,” said Martinez.

Those wanting to donate blood can visit Crystal Events in Kenner on Monday, Feb. 24 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. However, if you’ve donated blood for the French Quarter attack at the beginning of January, you will have to donate on Thursday.

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