Louisiana 2-year-old battling leukemia in need of blood, platelet donations

KENNER, La. (WGNO) — Bonded by a bone marrow transplant, Lidia Martinez is thankful her toddler is out of the hospital.

Not only is two-year-old Hezekiah Martinez not only walking, but driving his little car out of Children’s Hospital after spending nearly a year there.

“It felt like a relief just to see my son walk out of there. It was very touching. It felt really good to see my son just coming out of there, being a cancer survivor,” said Lidia.

His mother says it was a day filled with sunshine and hope.

“We are now officially home. And he actually has an MRD negative result, which means no cancer. And his bone marrow is clear,” said Lidia.

Known to many as Hezzy, the toddler was diagnosed last year with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy and eventually a life-saving bone marrow transplant from his own mother.

His mother says one of the best days of her life was traveling to Kansas City to donate her bone marrow, giving her son a chance to live.

Today, Hezzy is home, active, smiling and stronger, but the journey isn’t over until his body fully accepts the transplant. He still needs frequent blood and platelet donations.

“After a transplant, his numbers go all the way down. We don’t know when he’s going to fully recover from his transplant. It could take months. It could take a year,” said Lidia.

At the blood center, Paul Adams says the need for donations is constant with about 25 to 35 people needed each day.

“Platelets only have a shelf life of about five days. And so because of that, there is an ongoing need. And there’s not really a specific blood type that we’re looking for. It’s anything, donors, when they give whole blood,” said Adams.

With the lack of donations, Adams is urging more people to donate saying it helps Hezzy and others.

“It truly means the life of somebody else. Because when you give whole blood, we’re going to get a platelet, we’re going to get some plasma. We’re going to get that red cell. All three of those components can go to three different people,” said Adams.

Martinez is praying her son will be ringing the bell soon, grateful for everyone’s help.

“It’s going to be the most wonderful day of my life, just to know that he actually came out of it. As a mom, it’s actually the help of everyone, you know, and prayers and all these donations that are getting donated,” said Martinez.

If you would like to donate, you can visit the blood center in Metairie at 2617 Edenborn Ave. A, Metairie, LA 70002. The number is 504-249-4450.

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