Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Blood clinic will save lives

Kelly Huffman knows all too well the importance of blood donations. Over the past year, they've saved her daughter Bronwyn’s life.

“Bronwyn knows how dependent her life has been on blood donations,” she says, of her daughter who has been through four rounds of chemotherapy and one open- heart surgery after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in January. The chemotherapy weakened her heart greatly, leading to a surgery to install a heart pump four months ago.

The mother and daughter will be participating in a public blood clinic held in the lobby of police headquarters (40 College St.) on Nov. 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

She says that her daughter’s illness has opened her eyes to the need for blood donations.

“Before this happened, I never thought about and didn’t understand blood donations,” Huffman says.
“It wasn’t until watching Bronwyn go through this horrific time that you realize how her life depends on the kindness of people.”

Chemotherapy has lowered her red, white and platelet counts at various points in her treatment.
“It’s amazing the difference blood makes,” she says, of watching her lethargic daughter have life breathed into her through transfusions after four-to-five day spurts of chemotherapy every 12 hours.

“She goes from so weak and pale to turning pink and sitting up to talk.”

Bronwyn is now waiting to be diagnosed cancer-free so she can be placed on a waiting list to receive a heart transplant.

Blood donation appointments can be made through www.blood.ca or by calling 1-888-2DONATE.






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