NEWARK, Ohio (April 26, 2019) — The community is invited to give blood in memory of Emory Slevin at a special American Red Cross blood drive held in her memory Friday, May 17 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Home Depot in Newark.
Emory loved wandering in the woods, painting everything in sight, including faces, making gifts for others and hanging out with her friends. In September 2016, at age 14, she was diagnosed with B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma. Two years later, while still in treatment for lymphoma, she was diagnosed with B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia. In February 2019, at age 17, she lost her battle with cancer. During treatment she received nearly 100 blood and platelet transfusions.
Though her life was short, Emory made a big impact on many people. Her family invites the community to give blood in her memory.
“Emory lived with the confidence that her cancer would be cured and she looked forward to the future,” said Lauren Slevin, Emory’s mother. “She received blood products daily, sometimes three transfusions each day. Blood and platelet donors helped give us more time with our daughter, and we are so thankful for that.”
“There are so many reasons why someone may need blood that we don’t even realize,” said Justin Lynn, donor recruitment account manager for the Red Cross. “We take for granted that blood will be there at the hospital when we need it, but it can only come from generous volunteer donors. Giving blood in Emory’s name is a wonderful way to remember her and potentially help others.”
Every two seconds in the United States blood is 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 more than 13,000 blood and platelet donations every day for the patients at about 2,500 hospitals nationwide, including 41 hospitals in Central Ohio.
Donate Blood in memory of Emory Slevin
Friday, May 17, 2019
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Home Depot
1330 North 21st St., OH 43055
All those who come to donate May 1 to August 31 in the Central Ohio Region will receive a coupon for buy one get one free entry to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and be entered into a weekly drawing for four tickets to Zoombezi Bay through July 31. In addition, those who come to give blood with the Red Cross through June 10 will also receive a $5 Amazon.com gift card by email after their donation.
How to donate blood
Simply download the 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 and platelet donors can 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, from a computer or mobile device. 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.