Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
Red Cross has critical need for blood and platelet donations
WAPAKONETA, Ohio — The community is invited to give blood in memory of Anna Rebecca Eisert and children battling cancer at a special American Red Cross blood drive on Thursday, Dec. 29, from noon to 6 p.m. at First English Lutheran Church in Wapakoneta.
Born in Nov, 2014, Anna was diagnosed at one year old with high risk neuroblastoma, an extremely aggressive solid tumor cancer that typically occurs in very young children. Before beginning the final phase of treatment, she suffered a relapse and passed away on Nov. 3 of this year, just before her second birthday. Blood and platelet transfusions were a vital part of her care.
“She was funny, smart, sassy, and as tough as they came,” said Erin Eisert, Anna’s mother. “She loved her dog, the movie Tangled and she liked to sing.”
The Eisert family hopes the Wapakoneta community will give blood in Anna’s honor. “She had dozens of transfusions over the course of 11 months. It's thanks to wonderful people who are able to donate that she was able to have a fighting chance.”
“Hosting this blood drive in her name is a wonderful way to honor Anna and help patients in need,” said Jeri Garringer, account manager for the Red Cross Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region.
This blood drive comes at an important time. Now and throughout the holiday season, the Red Cross has a critical need for blood and platelet donations to help ensure patient needs continue to be met. Every two seconds in the United States blood and platelets are needed to respond to patient emergencies, including accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease. The Red Cross must collect approximately 14,000 blood and platelet donations every day for the patients at about 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide.
Blood Drive in memory of Anna Eisert
Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016
Noon to 6 p.m.
First English Lutheran Church
107 W. Mechanic Street, Wapakoneta, OH 45895
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
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