SAN DIEGO
A San Diego firefighter who spent the last two decades helping others now needs help of his own.
Arsenio "RC" Ortanez has been with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department for 20 years, spending that time fighting some of the city's most devastating fires, including spending time on the frontlines of the Cedar Fire.
"I was non-stop for three days," Ortanez said, as he recalled the October 2003 blaze. "I got moved over to Tierrasanta and we were protecting that whole neighborhood and it was just surreal."
Now, Ortanez has stopped fighting those battles. Instead, the once healthy, active man is now battling for his life.
All San Diego firefighters are required to undergo regular wellness checks to ensure their health is in order. It was during one of those checks in 2007 where Ortanez found out he had cancer.
Ortanez was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia, a type of cancer that affects white blood cells. The diagnosis explained Ortanez's extreme fatigue.
"I always kept it to myself ? [but] where I'm at right now, it's like I'm running out of options," the 41-year-old said.
It's a struggle that at times is almost too much to bear.
"It was hard," Ortanez said, fighting back tears as he recalled the moment doctors told him he had cancer. "I kept thinking about my daughter. I'm a single dad."
Ortanez couldn't hide his emotions when talking about his only child, Alley, who is now 17.
"My daughter is everything to me," Ortanez said.
Ortanez was on several medications for treating his cancer, but recently his body stopped responding to it. Now, he needs a bone marrow transplant.
Bone marrow is often matched by ethnicity, and according to the National Marrow Donor Program, only 7 percent of donors are Asian.
While Ortanez hopes to find a match, his firefighter mentality of helping others shines through knowing those who donate may save someone else.
"It's a win-win situation," Ortanez said.
Several donation drives will be held for Ortanez. The first one is Thursday, February 16, at the San Diego Fireman's Relief Association at 10509 San Diego Mission Road. The event will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Click here for more information
or call (619) 281-0354.
There is no charge to volunteers who want to donate. Anyone 18 to 60 years old is encouraged to attend the drive.
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