Help Rosendo Overcome His HLH Battle

My name is Jessie Ortiz, and I am organizing this fundraiser for my son Rosendo Ortiz. Rosendo (Chendo) is 18 months old and was diagnosed with HLH in January 2023, when he was just 2.5 months old, this is a day I will never forget. From the day he was born, I knew there was something wrong. Rosendo was born in November 2022, two days after he was born, he was admitted to the hospital with a bad eye infection. He was hospitalized for 14 days. He was then discharged and readmitted in December 2022. Shortly, after Chendo was diagnosed with Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). This is a life-threatening disease, which causes a hyperinflammatory response in the body. It is characterized by dysregulated immune activity resulting in malignant inflammation and organ failure. I was in shock and did not know what to think. I remember pleading with the doctors to save Chendo. He had all the symptoms: fever, enlarged liver, flare ups in the skin, and altered color of hair. The doctors confirmed the diagnosis of HLH through a bone marrow biopsy. The only cure was to control the disease and receive a bone marrow transplant. In June 2023, Chendo was admitted to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. He received chemotherapy to prepare him for his bone marrow transplant. In July 2023, he received his bone marrow transplant. Since we live several hours away from the hospital, my mother, Chendo, and I moved into the Ronald McDonald house so we could be close to the hospital. Within two months of his bone marrow transplant, Chendo began to experience complications and were readmitted to the hospital. We thought he had a viral infection, but it turned into one of the worst days. His HLH was flaring. The bone marrow transplant did not cure him, and it had come back. He overcame this with prayers. We have been in and out of the hospital since November 2023, and have had to stay in Los Angeles to be close to the hospital. He will eventually need a boost of cells to help his immune system. It has been very difficult, but thankfully he is stable. I did not want to ask for donations, but we are experiencing some difficulties with only one income. If you can please help in whatever way you can, it will be very appreciated. We need assistance to help pay for traveling/living expenses, bills, and food. His older brother and father are patiently waiting for us to come home. We pray to wake up from this nightmare and get back on our feet. We will appreciate anything you can give to support our family.