He is a smart, funny, and energetic 13-year-old boy who has been part of The Children’s Hope Foundation family for 10 years. Demetrius was born with IPEX Syndrome, a rare genetic autoimmune disease that affects only 1 in every 1.6 million people. Children with IPEX have abnormalities in the gene that controls the production of regulatory T cells. This causes the immune system to attack the body’s healthy tissues. The gene is carried on the X chromosome, so most patients are male.

When he was only six months old, Demetrius received a bone marrow transplant at UCSF Children’s Hospital in San Francisco. He and his mother spent two years there, while his dad stayed behind in Bloomfield to continue working and caring for their three other children. At the age of two, Demetrius’ immune system began attacking his own muscles.

Six years ago, Demetrius developed Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, and for a year, he traveled every month to Phoenix Children’s Hospital for infusion treatments. Since last November, he has been able to receive infusion treatments at UNM Children’s Hospital once a month.

Your support makes it possible for The Children’s Hope Foundation to assist Demetrius’ family with the travel needed to access medical care for this little fighter.