Portugal Midfielder Carlos Martins Asking for Help for Sick 3-Year-Old Son

Lisbon, Portugal—Portugal's qualification for the Euro 2012 was not celebrated as originally thought. A big step for the country but with a heavy heart. Portugal Midfielder Carlos Martins had just found out that his three-year-old son, Gustavo Martins, was diagnosed with leukemia.

With that diagnosis, Gustavo is in dire need of a bone marrow transplant.

Carlos and his wife Monica were recently seen on Portuguese television asking for people to "Like" the page they were creating on Facebook so that the general public could be informed about blood drive donations and stay up-to-date on the status of their child.

On the Facebook page created to publicize the need to find matching bone marrow to the footballer's son, Carlos and Monica Martins sang happy birthday and thanked everyone for the support of their son.

This message is translated from their Facebook Page, Vamos Ajudar O Gustavo; 

"Gustavo is now three years. We would like at this difficult time, to thank all of you who have shown themselves so humbly available to help our son to heal. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you very much," write Carlos Monica and Martin in "Let's help Gustavo."

The page surfaced on Facebook this past Tuesday and is now at over 75,000 followers. Portuguese coach Paulo Bentos and team are united with their teammate. The coach said so at the press conference and after the game.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Fabio Coentrao were some of the players who posted messages of support on social networks of Facebook and Twitter.

Not only is this sad because Carlos Martins is a player for Grenada in La Liga and for the Portugal national team footballer, but to be helpless when your child is sick—it must be the worst feeling in the world.

Best of luck to the Martins family.

Here is the link if any reader is interested:  https://www.facebook.com/vamosajudarogustavo

Gustavo celebrates his third birthday today, November 17, 2011. Happy Birthday Gustavo, and best wishes to you from everyone at the Bleacher Report.