A nationwide blood donation shortage nearly delayed a critical transfusion for 4-year-old Liv Freund from Waukee, who is battling leukemia at Blank Children’s Hospital. Liv is 10 months into her two-and-a-half-year treatment for B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.
Blood Shortage Concerns
A national blood shortage meant Liv almost didn’t get the transfusion she needed. Thanks to one available bag of blood, Liv’s chemotherapy will proceed, but the shortage of blood and platelets remains a concern for her family.
LifeServe Blood Center, the sole provider of blood products to central Iowa hospitals, said donations typically dip in the summer, but this year’s shortage is more severe than usual. According to LifeServe, whole blood donations take just minutes and have a shelf life of six weeks, while platelet donations take about two hours and last only five days.
For families like the Freunds, blood donations are critical. If you’re able to donate, please do so. It’s easy to sign up, and your donation could help children like Liv get the treatment they need to return to their healthy and happy selves.
Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.
