It’s that time of year again when we come together for Essex (Vermont) Fire Department’s Annual Blood Drive, in memory of my Addi, 15A1. Addi lived a Big Beautiful Life with unparalleled passion and purpose as a beloved member of our community and the Essex Fire Family. She also courageously fought a life-long progressive battle with a complex, cruel mystery disease which included severe blood and bone marrow disorders. Yet, she had an indomitable spirit and met life with joy, never acknowledging her life was hard. Not once. Blood products gave Addi life countless times, allowing her to live more life in her 12 short years than most people live in a much longer lifetime. We hope she leaves everyone her life has touched inspired to be present in life, believe in possibilities, find joy, engage in their communities and to help others. Please honor her by coming together at Essex Fire’s Annual Blood Drive to give blood and save lives in her memory.

The need for blood is constant and only volunteer donors can fulfill that need for patients in our community. Nationwide, someone needs a unit of blood every 2 to 3 seconds and most of us will need blood in our lifetime. Thank you for supporting the American Red Cross blood program! Please join our lifesaving mission and pledge here that you will schedule your blood donation appointments this year! If you’re able to make our in-person drive, here are the details:

Site: Founders Memorial School Gym, 33 Founders Rd, Essex Junction, VT
Date: Sat Feb 10, 2024
Time: 9:00: AM – 3:00: PM
Click here to make an appointment:  https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=ADDI

Can’t Donate Blood? Here are two other Ways to Honor Addi’s Big Beautiful Life and Legacy:

Support Addi’s beloved Essex Fire Family as well as their community projects by making a tax-deductible donation in Addi’s Memory now: Essex Fire Department:  http://essexfire.com/donate.html

Make a Tax-Deductible Monetary or In-kind Donation Now at https://givebutter.com/big-beautiful-life

Big Beautiful Life is a registered 501c3 charitable, independent organization which honors Addi’s legacy by bringing people together to continue her important work. Together We Can Do More! Bringing Comfort, Joy, Community and Resources to Children in Medical Crisis. Some of our programs include:
o Care packages filled with things to change the environment in a child’s hospital room and to engage them, their families and providers in normalizing joy despite a hard situation.
o Adventure Chair Lending Programs: aid members of our communities who are significantly disabled, allowing these often overlooked and isolated members of our community to enjoy natural areas they otherwise would not be able to access.
o Community Connections and Resources: Using our relationships and experience with Emergency Services and other non-profits, we help draw and strengthen resources and community to support our Big Beautiful Life Families.
o Family Funding: Financial support to families whose children experiences frequent or long hospitalization.
o Addi Carroll’s Pediatric Equipment Closet: Managed by Kid’s Rehab Gym (Vermont), Pediatric DME is recycled for lending after it is outgrown or no longer needed to meet the needs of a child.