Ariya Park, who lives in Murray, Utah, was diagnosed with cancer as a baby. Years of treatment and multiple blood transfusions have helped her survive. Read her story below.
One in three people in the U.S. is diagnosed with some form of the disease in their lifetime. And even if cancer has touched your life on a personal level, you may think there’s little we regular folks can do to help the approximately 1.8 million new cancer patients diagnosed just his past year. It’s time to think again.
The truth is, you can help others fight cancer -- in a big way That’s why two trusted nonprofit organizations, the Red Cross and American Cancer Society, have come together this month to raise awareness about the critical importance of donating blood, a way we can all directly help patients fight cancer.
By teaming up, the two organizations are doubling their efforts to save lives by educating the public to Give Blood to Give Time, a campaign designed to help ensure that cancer patients have the critical blood supply they need.American Red Cross & American Cancer Society: Join the The partnership was formed with the knowledge that patients fighting cancer need more blood than those fighting any other disease, using nearly one quarter of the blood supply. And demand is outpacing supply. That’s where you come in.There simply aren’t enough people donating regularly to meet the need. According to the American Red Cross, only 3% of us donate blood, but we can all help increase that number by volunteering to roll up a sleeve.
Volunteer donors like you are the only source of lifesaving blood You may be surprised to discover just how much blood is used to treat cancer patients: five units of blood are needed every minute of every day to help someone going through cancer treatments.And donors of all ethnicities and blood types are needed to ensure the right blood product is available at the right time. (Red blood cells have a shelf life of only 42 days and platelets just five, so they must constantly be replenished.)
This is personal
If you haven’t battled cancer yourself, you might know of someone who has, and you also know it can be a true fight for life. As it has been for little Ariya Park, cancer survivor and blood donation recipient.
Ariya was diagnosed with low-risk stage 2 Neuroblastoma at only nine months old. Her tumor was discovered when she started having symptoms of a rare Auto-Immune Disease called Opsoclonus, Myoclonus, Ataxia (OMS), where the immune system attacks itself. Her symptoms included constant shaking, as if she were cold; “dancing eyes,” also known as “Nystagmus;” and terrible balance.
A team of oncologists at Primary Children’s Hospital located the tumor, roughly the size of a softball, near her spine in her adrenal gland. Her doctor originally thought removing the tumor would eliminate the need for any other medical treatment; however, a few months after surgery, her family got the difficult news that the cancer had spread and was now located in her bone marrow, skull and leg. Her diagnosis was elevated to Stage 4 Intermediate risk.
Ariya ultimately had to endure eight rounds of chemotherapy, starting in July 2016. Her platelets became low due to the chemo, and she needed a blood transfusion in order to receiver her next round of treatment. Additionally, her blood type is O, the most transfused blood type, and hospital demand for platelet and type O blood donors continues to outpace donations. But Ariya was fortunate on both counts: the needed blood and platelets were available, thanks to Red Cross donors like you.
She handled the first chemo rounds fairly well, but the last three were hard on her. Thankfully, though, she made it to her last round in December 2016, and shortly after, in January, this brave girl got the good news that she was cancer free.
Since January 2017, she has continued to combat OMS, as the tumor did cause damage to her body. She’s has undergone numerous infusions that made her really sick, but with the care of Primary Children’s medical staff, her symptoms have gone away, and she has been cancer free for four years.
Ariya is now six years old, and so full of life! Her family counts their blessings every day that she is still here with them, and says she is their hero.
6-year-old Ariya is alive today in part because of the lifesaving blood donations made by someone like you.
When a loved one is diagnosed with cancer, kind words & casseroles may not seem like enough
By donating an hour of your time to give blood, however, you can support your loved one in a more meaningful way, with a priceless gift. Your blood donation could, in fact, help extend a patient’s time by a day, a week, or even years.
And your single donation can help save more than one life. When you donate, you’re supporting family and friends in your community and across the nation. So please roll up a sleeve and give in honor of your loved ones.You can also help raise awareness of the critical need for blood donations by sharing your donation experience on social media with #GiveBloodToGiveTime.
Here’s how to get started: a beginner’s guide to blood donation
It’s a simple process, taking about an hour from start to finish, with the actual donation itself taking about 8-10 minutes.
In addition:
Blood can be safely donated every 56 days.“Power Reds” can be donated every 112 days. Platelets can be given every seven days – up to 24 times a year.
In most states, you can donate blood if:
Find donation sites near you here.
Red Cross App makes blood donation even easier and more convenient
The Blood Donor App allows you to schedule and manage donation appointments, track the lifetime impact of your donations and encourage others to donate. It also contains your donor card, which serves as your official ID at donation appointments. In addition, you can view your health history information, including blood pressure, hemoglobin levels and pulse rate.
Download the free app by texting “BLOODAPP” to 90999 or searching “American Red Cross.”
There are actually three ways you can help those fighting cancer
1. Donate blood: As already noted, a whopping five units of blood are needed every minute of every day to help someone going through cancer treatment. For those undergoing chemotherapy treatments while battling cancer, a blood transfusion literally gives them strength to keep fighting.
2. Donate platelets: Platelets play a critical role in treatment for millions of Americans fighting cancer and other chronic diseases, as well as those recovering from traumatic injuries. Low platelet count is a major side effect of cancer treatment, and some types of chemotherapy can damage bone marrow, reducing platelet production. Other times, the cancer itself causes the problem: Leukemia and lymphoma can invade the bone marrow and prevent the patient’s body from producing the platelets it needs. Without a platelet transfusion, cancer patients may not be able to receive the treatments they need. Every 15 seconds, someone needs platelets, but unlike other blood products, they cannot be stockpiled. Platelets must be used within five days of donation, so donors are constantly needed.
3. Donate financially· A financial gift to the American Cancer Society supports its comprehensive approach to attacking cancer that includes breakthrough research, free rides to treatment, free lodging and a live 24/7 helpline.
A financial gift to the American Red Cross helps support the collection and distribution of lifesaving blood products to cancer patients in need.(CTA)Join the team today! When you donate blood to the Red Cross or make a financial gift to the American Cancer Society or Red Cross, you become part of a lifesaving team, working to make sure cancer patients receive the vital treatment and access to programs and services they need.
You’re helping give patients and their families time, resources and hope to keep on fighting.Schedule your donation today and Give Blood to Give Time. Or visit GiveBloodToGiveTime.org or call 1-800-733-2767 to learn more.
