Heartland Blood Centers infuses donation to Presence Mercy Medical Center with heartfelt messages

Uplifting messages of hope and prayer are being sent to young patients at Presence Mercy Medical Center, courtesy of Heartland Blood Centers. During its "12 Days of Giving" campaign, the blood center encouraged blood donors to write heartfelt messages inside books for teens and children.

Some messages were fun "Happy Reading Cutie-pa-tootie!" Others bring a tear to the eye, "Know that somewhere a stranger is thinking of you and praying for you."

Heartland's Esmeralda Canales delivered more than 150 books to Presence Mercy Medical Center Director of Women and Children Services Lisa Adamczyk.

"The books were donated by Dawn Weber in memory of Lexi and Tim," Canales said. "It was a very special donation and we were thrilled to give our blood donors an opportunity to personalize the books."

"Our young patients will truly enjoy reading the books, but more importantly the personal messages will let them know someone out there is rooting for them to get better soon," Adamcyzk said. "This donation really touched my heart."

Heartland's "12 Days of Giving" event runs from Dec. 18-31 at the Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg. The goal is to recruit 2,000 blood donors. Since each donation can save up to three lives, Heartland Blood Centers' mission during the "12 Days of Giving" is to touch 6,000 lives via the Woodfield donor event.