Donate blood to help kids battling life-threatening diseases
This May, LifeSource will honor the strength, hope and courage of mothers and caregivers of children by encouraging those who are blood type O Negative to donate blood on behalf of the area's newborns and premature babies, as well as children who have been impacted by the need for blood donations.
One Chicago-area mom who is most thankful for the kindness of others is Shakara Gross of north suburban Gurnee. Her 14-year-old son, Javon, was born with sickle cell anemia. For the past three years, he has received monthly blood transfusions at UIC Medical Center to keep the disease in check.
A blood donor since her days while attending Fremd High School in Palatine, Shakara is active in raising awareness for sickle cell disease and encourages individuals who are able to donate blood as often as possible.
"I see the immediate effect it has on Javon when he receives his transfusions and am thankful to those who selflessly roll up their sleeves to donate," says Shakara, who is also the founder of Javon's Gift, a soon-to-be 501(c)(3) nonprofit raising much needed dollars and awareness for sickle cell disease throughout Lake County.
"You never know when you'll need the lifesaving gift of blood that can comes from area donors," she adds. "It really the easiest way to give someone a second chance of life."
Children as young as newborn can be greatly impacted by the generous gift of blood donations; as little as three teaspoons of blood can save a baby's life.
O Negative donors are rare but very special because their blood is the safest to use for intrauterine transfusions and to treat newborns, premature infants, and those with suppressed immune systems. But such donors are scarce: only 7 percent of the population is O Negative blood type.
O Negative is known as the "universal" blood type because it can be transfused to any patient in need. O Negative is typically used in emergency situations when there isn't time to determine a patient's blood type.
While O Negative is particularly important, all blood types are always needed as many children are impacted every day with the need for routine transfusions. Oftentimes, these transfusions are needed unexpectedly.
"There is such great joy to see a mother and her healthy child and by having an optimal inventory of O Negative blood on our shelves, we can ensure that patients in need will receive this great gift of life," says LifeSource spokeswoman Thelma Sardin.
According to LifeSource, each collected unit of blood can support up to three lives. 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.
LifeSource hosts' blood drives daily and also operates community donor centers across the greater Chicago area. To schedule an appointment, contact LifeSource at (877) 543-3768, or visit www.lifesource.org.