Luis Gonzales raises awareness for donating blood - New York News | NYC Breaking News

Luis Gonzales raises awareness for donating blood

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Madison, her friend McKindree, and Luis Gonzales Madison, her friend McKindree, and Luis Gonzales
PHOENIX -

Phoenix Children's Hospital hosted a special party Wednesday to bring smiles to some of their youngest patients.

Streets of New York served up pizza, and Arizona Diamondbacks legend Luis Gonzales made a special appearance -- visiting young patients waiting for lifesaving blood transfusions.

Phoenix Children's Hospital expects more than 700 blood transfusions during the month of December.

Pizza and Luis Gonzales brought a huge grin to all the kids, especially one 5-year-old suffering from 'Diamond Blackfan Anemia,' a very rare disease.

"Well she's number 511 worldwide with this disease so it is very rare," says Aimee Johnson, the girl's mother.

"My first instinct was how do we fix this, you know, what can we do. Are there treatment options? Are there plans? Are there protocols? And are there cures, is there a cure?" says Gonzales.

Her ultimate goal is a transplant -- but in just five short years, Madison has relied on 91 blood donors for regular transfusions of red blood cells.

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