Blood and Platelet Donors Help Save Child’s Life

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Talon Adkins is a 9-year-old boy from Eutawville, SC. His life dramatically changed when he was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia, a disease in which the bone marrow does not make enough blood cells for the body. Blood transfusions help give him the strength to live his life.

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Since Talon was diagnosed in November 2024, he's spent about 50 days in the hospital. He currently receives whole blood every one to two weeks and platelets several times a week.

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Lisa Adkins, with her two sons, Lawson (6) and Talon (9) on a family vacation. Lisa became a blood donor in January and encourages others to give blood to help people like her son.

April 01, 2024

Story told by Cheary Shelim, Red Cross Volunteer

“It was the day after Thanksgiving,” said Lisa Adkins, from Eutawville, SC. “We realized that he was really down, not able to keep up, and not able to run.”

She thought it was strange that her usually active son, 9-year-old Talon, who loved the outdoors and played football, was not able to keep up with the rest of the team. The family soon learned of Talon’s diagnosis of severe aplastic anemia, a disease in which the bone marrow does not make enough blood cells for the body.

“We took him to the pediatrician, and they took his hemoglobin,” she recalls the lab results which revealed that Talon’s hemoglobin and platelets levels were extremely low.

Talon was sent to the emergency room and immediately given blood and platelet transfusions.

“I just counted the days. I think he has spent 50 days in the hospital since November,” Lisa said.

Since his first admission, Talon has required multiple blood and platelet transfusions. Currently, he receives blood every one to two weeks and platelets several times a week.

“You can start to tell [that] he needs platelets when he starts bleeding in his mouth. He’ll have blood all over the sheets when he wakes up,” shares Lisa. “But when he gets blood, you’ll see more color on his face. He’ll have more energy.”

Talon is currently undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. If that does not work, he may have to undergo a bone marrow transplant. In the meantime, Lisa is grateful for the support she has received for her son, including her local church that has organized a community blood drive in honor of Talon.

“I never realized how people depend on that to live. My first time giving blood was in January,” said Lisa, who encourages others to donate. “Something as simple as just going in and spending 30 minutes to give blood [can save a life].”

Like Talon, many patients have conditions that necessitate recurrent transfusions, including those with sickle cell disease and cancer. The need for blood is constant. Find how you can safely donate at a blood drive near you: redcrossblood.org