Thousands raised for Jacobsen Syndrome

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Dozens of Hoosiers came out to a live auction Sunday afternoon to show their support for a local boy with a rare disease.

News Channel 18 told you about Zion Stanfield's journey with Jacobsen Syndrome last week. Zion was three years old when doctors diagnosed him with the disorder, a congenital disorder that only affects about 200 children worldwide.

The disease results from the deletion of part of Zion's 11th chromosome, which causes intellectual disabilities, a distinct facial appearance, heart defects and a variety of other health problems.

Zion's mother, Charity Stanfield, said her son's case is actually one of the better ones.

"Zion is very healthy, obviously very mobile. Some of them are not even mobile, so we're fortunate," Stanfield said. "Those families have a lot of other battles, that for some reason or another God chose hyperactivity for us versus some of the more physical delays."

"Just getting it out there, so those families that do, that are affected with this syndrome can find ways to manage it and help out with it as well," said Amber Richardson, who organized the auction. She titled the event "Zion's Quest for 11q," and hopes to make it an annual occurrence.

The live auction featured coffee and tea baskets from Starbucks, some nice television sets, and the featured prize, a '95 BMW from MRS Motors.

As of late Sunday, Richardson said the event has raised $16,000 and counting. All proceeds will go towards research and resource groups for Jacobsen Syndrome.