There’s no bad reason to donate blood–but we like to think we’ve got a pretty good one. Cancer sucks–there’s no way around it. Childhood cancer is a special brand of nightmare and heart-wrench. And when it hits close to home… There are few atrocities in this world that compare. Five year old Jackson Myerscough from Champaign, IL was diagnosed after many months of health issues with AML–Acute Myeloid Leukemia–a type of blood and bone marrow cancer that requires aggressive treatment. Jackson and mom Cynthia were told they’d be spending six to seven months in the hospital through multiple rounds of 25-35 day stretches “on” (where they’d first kill as many cancer cells and, consequently, his immune system in five day blasts of chemo before spending another couple weeks letting his immune system recover) before a few days “off” at home if his health allows. He’s already been in isolation and had significant complications, but this is a happy story! After his first round of treatment, Jackson was declared to be in remission! He will still endure four rounds total to eradicate the disease, and during that time as Cynthia detailed, “When everything is being killed off [during chemo], his body can’t make blood cells fast enough so he will be [receiving] lots of blood transfusions and platelet transfusions to keep him well.” So today, we ask that you give in Jackson’s name and save some lives. If you are unable, we simply ask that you tell your family and friends about it. Blood products are saving babies every day in Jackson’s unit and beyond—together we can make a real difference and ensure they never have to worry about running out.