One blood donation can help save up to three lives. That means a lot to patients in need, but it took on a new meaning recently.

Mica, who has been tirelessly fighting ATRT brain and spine cancer since she was only 6 months old, has now been thrown into the leukemia world as well. After more than 3 years of various treatments including chemotherapy and radiation, she has developed a secondary cancer (Bilineage leukemia) due to the treatment she was receiving for her brain cancer, and in the last month has already needed numerous blood and platelets transfusions.

It is not an exaggeration to say that the current blood and platelets shortage has already made an impact on her care. While Mica is admitted to the hospital for this entire month for chemotherapy to treat her leukemia, her doctors have made the decision to lower the number at which she is to receive platelets, due in part to the shortage. Although she is safe because we are here in the hospital so she is very closely monitored, they will now only transfuse platelets when she is within the critical range, less than 10 TH/uL.

Without volunteer blood donors, our story could look a lot different. Help me reach my goal and ensure that patients receive the life saving blood they need. While your donation will likely not go directly to Mica herself, every donation can help others like her.

Make and keep an appointment to give blood to the American Red Cross.