In honor of Mom’s (Judy’s) birthday, we are launching a virtual blood drive! Mom was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia on July 2, 2019. She has gone through countless rounds of chemotherapy, and battled challenging complications along the way. Despite all that she has endured, she maintains a positive outlook and a strong will to persevere and beat this disease! She is a favorite patient among the hospital staff, always greeting them with a kind smile and a sense of humor. Her nurses say she should be a motivational speaker to other patients!

She has come a long way, but her journey continues getting her closer to a stem cell transplant that is the only known cure for AML. Mom receives frequent blood transfusions as part of her treatment to keep her healthy and feeling good. This is where you come in!

There is a constant need for blood donations, and due to COVID-19, blood banks are experiencing even more shortages. Blood of all types is needed, but can only be kept for a certain amount of time. That’s why it’s so important to ensure a steady supply of blood for those who need it most. To quote the US Surgeon General, “Social distancing does not have to mean social disengagement.”

With this campaign, we hope to inspire and motivate our friends and family to donate blood. We also understand that now is a complicated time and many will likely question the safety of giving blood. Please do what is best for you, and only give blood if you feel safe and comfortable.

Red Cross blood drives are taking extra precautions during this time, including:

-Wearing gloves and masks
-Requiring scheduled appointments, rather than walk-ins
-Disinfecting after each appointment
-Screening donors before giving blood in case of symptoms or illness
-Following social distancing protocols

For the full list of precautionary measures Red Cross blood drives are taking, visit this link: https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/dlp/coronavirus–covid-19–and-blood-donation.html

Friends and family are so important, especially in difficult times, and we so appreciate all your love and support! It means the world to Mom and to us to have such a wonderful support system. Your continued love and encouragement is by far the best medicine.

Please pledge your blood donation today, and help bring new life to Mom and other patients in need! Happy Birthday, Mom!

Thanks and love,
The Zuzack Family

Giving blood for the first time!

Posted on: May 1, 2020

Hello! I gave blood for the first time today, and it went very smoothly. The nurses and staff wore masks and gloves at all times and disinfected the chairs and tables after each donor. Before coming into the building, they took my temperature and asked me some screening questions. They limited the number of donors inside the building at once. They did a great job at keeping everything clean and organized.

Thanks for pledging! It’s a great feeling when they say at the end, “You just saved 3 lives.”