When Eloise Lawrence was just 2 she was diagnosed with leukemia. Four years later, the Idaho girl is "full of life" thanks in large part to the generosity of Red Cross blood donors.
Around the time she turned 2, Eloise Lawrence couldn’t seem to stay healthy. But when she woke up one afternoon and the blood vessels around her feet and ankles appeared to be bursting, her parents knew it was serious.
“The doctor took one look at her that day and sent us to the emergency room,” Eloise’s mom Jenica said.
Eloise and Jenica were rushed by ambulance to St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital in Boise, where Eloise was eventually diagnosed with leukemia.
She would undergo treatment for the next two and a half years, receiving multiple blood transfusions along the way.
Some four years later, Eloise is a healthy, “feisty” 6-year-old, thanks in large part to the generosity of blood donors.
“She’s so full of life,” Jenica said. “She loves skate boarding and dancing and wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up.”
Jenica has a heartfelt message to all those who helped give a little girl they didn’t even know a second chance.
“Thank you for letting me keep my family,” she said. “Our family wouldn’t be the same; our life wouldn’t be the same. We get to watch her live her dreams for herself and that’s not something we always thought we were going to have.”
There are many more children like Eloise who need your help. Schedule an appointment to donate today at redcrossblood.org or by calling 800-RED-CROSS.