A familiar and happy face will be among the returning Seal Beach Junior Lifeguards this year.
Kai Quinonez, of Rossmoor, will participate in the program this summer, said his father, Gus Quinonez of the Quinonez Group, a profesional real estate service, in Los Alamitos.
He first entered the program last year when he was released from the hospital. His father confirmed that Kai has registered with the program for 2014.
Kai, who turned 12 on Sunday, June 15, celebrated his birthday with his favorite breakfast of bacon and M&M pancakes.
As he celebrated turning 12, he also celebrated another milestone: being a kid.
Kai has aplastic anemia, a rare blood disease that the Mayo Clinic website says stops your body from producing new blood cells.
His current condition is excellent.
“He’s leading a almost normal life,” said Gus Quinonez.
Kai will be at the Seal Beach City Council meeting Monday, June 23, to pick up a check from Run Seal Beach for the School Ghoul program, his family’s way of giving back to the community that supprted them through Kai’s medical troubles.
“Aplastic anemia leaves you feeling fatigued and with a higher risk of infections and uncontrolled bleeding,” the Mayo Clinic website said.
Kai has been battling the disease for much of his young life, spending time in hospitals while other children were spending their time playing in the sun.
For now, Kai is in remission, his dad said. For now, no blood transfusions. For now, no more chemotherapy. For now, they are avoiding the need for a bone marrow transplant.
Gus Quinonez said Kai’s white and red blood cell counts are holding. Quinonez said his son’s platelets still have a way to go, but the family has been told that the platelets will be the last part to improve, so they aren’t worried.
As for the Junior Lifeguard program, the elder Quinonez said that Kai loves the Seal Beach program.
“Everybody knows each other, just like the city itself,” Gus Quinonez said.
He said all the Lifeguards know his son.
Gus said it is a great area, apparently referring to Seal Beach, Rossmoor and Los Alamitos.
The Junior Lifeguard program isn’t the only new development in Kai’s life.
“He just started Boy Scouts,” Gus Quinonez said.
Kai is now a member of Troop 642, the Seal Beach/Rossmoor troop.
Kai recently took his first hike. For another child, a hike would be an ordinary event. But for children with serious medical conditions, the ordinary may be off limits for a time.
Days, weeks or even months may be spent in hosptials or doctor’s waiting rooms.
Kai, for example, was not allowed to ride a bike for three years. But his doctors cleared him to ride a bike again this past November.
Next week, Kai will be picking up a $1,250 check to use for the expenses to run the School Ghoul race event.
Gus Quinonez said all proceeds from the School Ghoul event will go to the Los Alamitos Unified School District. This will be the third 5K Run & Fun Walk since the Quinonez family started the fundraising event. This year’s School Ghoul will be held Oct. 19 in Rossmoor’s Rush Park.
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