This is my beautiful mama, Phyllis. After battling thyroid cancer and several bouts of breast cancer, in July of 2021 we received the devastating diagnosis of a very rare and aggressive form of Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

You see, we were staring at the light at the end of the tunnel. Mom was finishing up the last bit of her long term chemo regimen for her last round of breast cancer. She was cancer free and after the craziness of Covid lockdowns and isolation, we had just started planning all the events, games, get togethers, celebrations and vacations that we had missed out on the year prior.

My mom and dad are high school sweethearts and have been married for more than 45 years. They have 5 children and 19 grandchildren, and that is what Phyllis lives for. Our immediate family is a head turning group of 32 people. It is why she has chosen to be a warrior and once again battle with intensive chemotherapy and be the recipient of a stem cell transplant. Due to these battles, she needs blood transfusions every 2-3 days to keep fighting. This is where we learned, the shortage is real, and it just got really personal.

My mom and I recently discussed how grateful she is for every single blood product donation she receives. We recognize that it takes precious time away during a busy day, a stacked schedule and a crazy world. With little to no tangible reward, the gift of blood is truly a selfless one. But in the words of my mother, “You are saving a life. You are saving MY life”.

Please, donate today. Donate as often as you physically can. As we’ve learned the hard way, each one of us is one tragedy, one diagnosis away from a personal need for blood.

With sincere gratitude and appreciation,

Phyllis, Jerry, Trevor, Amanda, Britainy and Ashley, their spouses and their children
AKA ~ The Palmers