The annual Telegram Saves Lives campaign concludes today. As part of our efforts to encourage people to give blood, we’re running a series of letters from people whose lives were changed by blood donation. Jeannie Piercey of St. John’s submitted this one:
Jan. 21, 1999: I hear poles clicking and children crying. And I see parents pacing, doctors planning — all in a day at the oncology ward at the Janeway Children’s Hospital.
On Jan. 21, 1999, we received the horrible news that Rebecca — our baby girl, age 21 months — had been diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroblastoma.
This came as a great shock, as we had made repeated visits to the Janeway for an eye infection and a cold.
The days became long and scary, as the many unknowns became very real. We were faced with nine rounds of aggressive chemo, stem-cell rescue in Toronto and a stem-cell transplant in the fall of 1999.
We learned very quickly that survival for Rebecca meant many blood and/or platelets transfusions.
The chemo would attack her immune system very aggressively, leaving us many days to need multiple blood products in one day.
We spent many weeks and months in hospital. We knew little about the great need for blood donations until we were faced with our own journey. What we did know was that it was the “ultimate gift to survival.”
Over the course of her treatment, she received more than 80 blood products. We engaged in many campaigns supporting the need to give blood. We hosted three birthdays at the centre to spread awareness, asking for donations of blood instead of gifts.
Please consider giving the gift of life. It’s the greatest gift any child/adult can receive — it’s free and saves lives.
We are so grateful for our precious gift. Please consider donating today.
Rebecca is now 20, loves life and enjoys every moment to the fullest.
The Canadian Blood Services location at 7 Wicklow St., St. John’s, is open from Tuesday to Saturday. Visit blood.ca for times.
