John Paul Quintero, a six-year-old boy who loves baseball and horses, was diagnosed at the age of one month with a very rare blood disease known as Diamond Blackfan Anemia (DBA). DBA, which affects 600 to 700 people worldwide, is a rare blood condition developed at birth due to a failure of the bone marrow to produce enough red blood cells. DBA affects children from all ethnic groups; the symptoms are characterized by a decrease in energy, sleepiness, shortness of breath, difficulty taking in nourishment during infancy, and physical malformations. In order to survive, John Paul requires blood transfusions every two to three weeks. As of now, he has received over 150 blood transfusions provided by the care at UCLA Medical Center.
In May 2006, Juan Quintero, John Paul's father, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. He has lost the use of both his arms and is currently beginning to lose the use of one leg. Juan and Marisol, John Paul's mother, have a dream that one day they will see John Paul dance at his own wedding and play baseball as a pro. Marisol has currently taken a leave of absence from work to take care of both Juan and John Paul. She is also responsible for the care of her daughter, Jaqueline.
The Quintero Family is in dire need of support. Marisol's insurance will only cover them for another 17 months and she is overwhelmed at home with the care of both Juan and John Paul. Her insurance payments are over $800 due to her leave of absence. For more information about John Paul Quintero and his cause, please visit www.johnpaulquintero.com. |
