News

Three-Year-Old Survives Five Organ transplant

By Cheri Cheng | Update Date: Dec 18, 2013 10:35 AM EST

Three-year-old Adonis Ortiz fought for his life as he became the first toddler to survive the first-ever five organ transplant. Adonis, who is from Florida, was born was a severe birth defect: his intestines grew outside of his body.

"Everything they would keep telling me is that he would have a 50/50 chance," Adonis' mother, Aracelis Ortiz said according to USA Today. "He is really strong. After all his surgeries, he comes out with a smile."

Adonis had a condition called short gut syndrome, which meant that he did not have enough intestines to absorb nutrients properly. Since his intestines could not absorb nutrients, Adonis was fed intravenously during the first few years of his life. Shortly after the intestines, Adonis had several other complications. His liver began to fail, which further deteriorated his health and forced doctors to turn to the option of a five-organ transplant.

In October, the family received the call that Adonis had an organ match. The young child and his family rushed to the hospital immediately. Soon after the call, Adonis went into surgery for a new liver, pancreas, stomach, small intestine and large intestine. All of the organs had come from one donor.

"For you to have a donor, a baby must die. That was the hardest part for us." Adonis' grandmother, Elvira Cruz, said. "I know it's all God's doing. And I know there were a lot of people praying for him."

"I just get on my knees, and say God Please, just do what you have to do," Adonis' father, Emir Ortiz said.

Adonis is now recovering at the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.

© 2023 Counsel & Heal All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

Join the Conversation

Real Time Analytics