Schaumburg blood drive to honor 12-year-old leukemia survivor
Corina Najjar's family and friends this January are commemorating two milestones for the Campanelli School sixth-grader; her 12th birthday and her seventh year of being leukemia-free. They'll celebrate with a Schaumburg Community Blood Drive in her honor from 3:30-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29, at The Barn, 231 Civic Drive, Schaumburg.
In treatment of her acute lymphocytic leukemia, Najjar endured 26 months of chemotherapy treatments, which required several whole blood transfusions, along with routine blood platelet treatments.
The donated blood, her family says, was vital to her recovery. She's now a happy girl who enjoys playing soccer and is learning to play the violin. For this tightknit group, the best way to say "thanks" is to roll up their sleeves and help replenish the blood supply for the next family with a child battling cancer.
Corina's mom, Caroline, couldn't be happier to now see her daughter thriving. She says that the five-year ordeal, oddly enough, has had an incredibly positive affect on how the family looks at their lives - along with the people in it. Not only has it brought everyone closer for a common cause, but has also revealed Corina's unique compassion toward others going through what she did - particularly kids.
"Since enduring her chemo, Corina has become an inspiration to other kids in her position," Caroline says.
She recalls a story about being in a hospital room when they began to hear a girl across the hall about Corina's age screaming because she didn't want the doctor to touch her.
"Corina calmly walked into her room, spoke to her reassuringly, and then gently demonstrated how she should hold her ice bag in place, and when she was ready to move that ice pack away, it would signal to the doctor to begin the treatment," the mom says. "This gave the youngster control of a very difficult moment ... and it worked."
This deep compassion for other children who are sick, afraid - or who just need encouragement - Caroline explains, is a reflection of Corina's journey and the hardships she's faced.
With Corina now cancer-free, the family can reflect on their own, lengthy journey.
"We went from 'Why us?' to 'Thank you for giving us this positive experience,'" Caroline says. "It may sound strange, but we came out a better family from all of this. We're thriving now."
Caroline has since become an advocate for donating blood, and now volunteers on the Schaumburg community blood drive committee. Both mom and daughter plan to be at the Jan. 29 event to thank everyone for giving the "gift of life."
"Corina wants to do this, and we want to help," says Caroline. "Mostly, we want to help the next family that will go through this."
Participating donors will be entered in a random drawing for a chance to win AMC gift cards. Each donor will also receive a LifeSource T-shirt. Donors can schedule their appointment by calling LifeSource at (877) 543-3768 or visiting www.lifesource.org.
Blood donors must be at least 17 years old (or 16 years old with parental consent).
In preparation for their donation, donors are asked to eat well, stay hydrated and arrive with proper identification.
Established in 1987 and a business unit of The Institute for Transfusion Medicine, LifeSource is a nonprofit organization and the largest blood center in Illinois. LifeSource provides blood products and transfusion-related services to hospitals in the Chicago area. Blood donors must be 17 years old, or 16 with signed parental consent, and should prepare by eating a meal or healthy snack and properly hydrating. Donors must bring photo identification when they donate. For more information, go to lifesource.org or visit Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @LifeSourceOrg.
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