By Beau Zimmer, WTSP-TV, Tampa-St. Petersburg, Fla. 9:52 a.m. EST December 18, 2013
TAMPA, Florida - Three-year-old Adonis Ortiz's young life is a story of survival, faith and love. "Everything they would keep telling me is that he would have a 50/50 chance," recalls his mother Aracelis Ortiz.
Born with a severe birth defect that left his intestines formed outside his body, additional complications meant only one hope for survival; a never before attempt at a five-organ transplant. "For you to have a donor, a baby must die," said grandmother Elvira Cruz. "That was the hardest part for us."
The life-saving call about a transplant match came in October. The three-year-old boy was rushed to Miami with just hours notice. His parents were unsure if the procedure would work, or if their son would survive. "I just get on my knees, and say God please, just do what you have to do," said Adonis' father Emir Ortiz.
Defying all odds, the liver, pancreas, stomach and small and large intestine transplants worked. The three-year-old boy is still recovering at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.
"He is really strong," said his mother. "After all his surgeries, he comes out with a smile." Back home in Tampa, the rest of his family awaits Adonis' return home. "I know it's all God's doing. And I know there were a lot of people praying for him," said his grandmother of the recovery.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nati ... t/4108483/