Rondout School District 72 to Host Blood Drive This Friday for Fourth Grader with Leukemia
To support a fourth grader who is battling leukemia, Rondout School District 72 will host a blood drive from 1-7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 24, in the school gym at 28593 Bradley Road, Lake Forest.
According to the student's family, Rondout student Samantha Ghantous, 9, has Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. Following three years of chemotherapy and radiation, she went into remission, but her cancer returned before Christmas 2012.
Since patients who undergo chemotherapy often require blood transfusions, the school district is again coordinating a "replenishment" drive with Chicagoland blood center LifeSource. The first blood drive for Samantha was last February.
"The same chemotherapy that destroys Samantha's leukemia unfortunately also damages her normal cells," explains her mom, Jean Ghantous. "Samantha becomes anemic quite frequently and relies on blood transfusions to keep her alive during chemotherapy."
The mom says her daughter has been able to attend school "only about 40 percent" of the time, and does her best to keep up. Her daughter Samantha misses her friends and activities terribly, she says, but remains a cheerful, fun-loving and outgoing kid who enjoys softball, art, American Girl dolls and crafting.
"She still manages to see the bright side of a cloudy day," her mom adds. "If it weren't for blood donors, she would not be with us now. We're eternally grateful to all those who volunteer their time to donate."
Rondout School District 72 Superintendent Jenny Wojcik adds that the school district is solidly behind the effort to help one of its own students.
"Our school district continues to be very supportive of Sam and her family," Wojcik says. "We've even assembled a committee called 'Team Sam' that is made up of volunteer parents, staff, teachers and community members."
LifeSource officials, meanwhile, are grateful that friends and families of Samantha's fellow students want to help.
"Samantha's story is both heroic and heartbreaking," says Chad Douglas, Executive Director of Blood Operations at LifeSource. "We're humbled by the Rondout School District community's outpouring of support for Samantha."
Appointments for the blood drive are preferred, but all walk-ins are welcome. Donors can schedule their appointment by calling LifeSource at (877) 543-3768 or visiting www.lifesource.org and using the code 301D. For more information, contact LifeSource Account Manager Ellen Plotkin at (847) 226-6636.
Along with hosting daily blood drives, LifeSource operates 19 community donor centers and four fixed sites with regular operating days and hours. In preparation for their donation, donors are asked to eat well, stay hydrated and arrive with proper identification.