Virtual Blood Drive

When my son was airlifted for diagnosis, blood flew with him — not yet given, but ready, in case he needed it before we landed. The moment we arrived, he did. Bag after bag, just to stabilize him. That blood came from people who never knew his name. They gave anyway, and it was there the moment he needed it. That was only the beginning. Over the course of his treatment, he needed countless transfusions — whole blood, platelets, and cryoprecipitate, a blood product I didn't even know existed before we needed it. Blood products like these aren't optional extras in cancer treatment. They're what keeps a child's body strong enough to survive the chemo that's trying to save them. Most people don't realize blood expires. It can't be stockpiled, and it can't wait. The need doesn't end when a campaign does — it's constant, quiet, and ongoing, the same way treatment is for a child in the middle of it. We launched this September, in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, but we're not stopping there. This is a year-round call: give when you can, as often as you can.