Race For Our Kids 2018-Meet Brandon "BJ" Britt

If you meet smiling, energetic, 2-year-old Brandon "BJ" Britt, a frequent patient at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, you would never guess he suffers from a rare bleeding disorder.

BJ loves superheroes, basketball and baseball, and despite his health issues he has a pleasant demeanor and is often so energetic that his mom has a hard time putting him to bed at night. BJ is "all boy" and longs to play baseball like his cool older brother, Jaleel. However, having been diagnosed with idiopathic thrombocytopenic pupura, or ITP, a disorder resulting from unusually low levels of red blood cell platelets that can lead to excessive bruising and bleeding, BJ can't play sports because of the increased risk of hurting himself.

BJ was diagnosed with ITP at a well visit on his first birthday (at the time, his pediatrician also tested him for the sickle cell disease trait, of which both his parents are carriers). When test results indicated that BJ, in addition to his bruising very easily, did not have any red blood cell platelets, he was rushed to the ER at Sinai.  

BJ's white blood cells attack his red blood cells. When he cuts himself, his blood doesn't clot. He has been in and out of the hospital for the past year (often having to stay for two weeks at a time) and has undergone various treatments to help his weakened immune system and stave off infection, like any superhero would do. A tough little guy, BJ has a high tolerance for pain.

BJ likes to make himself at home at The Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai, happily walking right behind the front desk every time he visits. He thinks Dr. Yoram Unguru is "awesome" and absolutely loves his nurses, Tammie and Allison, whom he affectionately calls "my girls."

BJ and his family are looking forward to participating in the 14th annual Race for Our Kids on Sept. 16.