Donating Blood

For those of you who wonder what you can do to help Celeste, donating blood would be much appreciated. Since Celeste is needing platelet transfusions it is suggested that friends and family take some time to donate to keep the supply up. You can't donate to a specific person but your donation will make a difference. To help shed a little more light on the need of a large supply of platelet and blood donations here is  another story of a little girl who is in need of many platelet transfusions.

Emily Emily Myers received her first platelet transfusion when she was just minutes old. By her third birthday, she had received about 80 transfusions, and she is expected to receive more as she gets older.   The daughter of Brooke and Jim Myers of Tucson, Emily was born with the rare genetic condition thrombocytopenia-absent radius (TAR) syndrome. The disorder is characterized by extremely low levels of platelets. In addition, TAR syndrome patients may have abnormalities in the gastrointestinal, skeletal, hematologic and cardiac systems.   Emily received one to two platelet transfusions per week for the first two months of her life. She now gets a transfusion about once a month. The low platelet count in TAR children can improve with age to the point that transfusions are no longer needed. Until Emily reaches that point, Brooke wants to spread awareness of the need for platelet donors. “She has helped us recruit new platelet donors this past year, including two of her brothers-in-law.  Brooke has really helped inspire me ...she is just a wonderful and caring person all around,” said Stacie Baier of the American Red Cross.   Schedule your appointment now to donate blood or call 1-800-RED CROSS.

redcrossblood.org | 1-800-RED CROSS | 1-800-733-2767 If you have questions regarding your eligibility to donate blood, please call 1-866-236-3276 or visit their website.