When Cheyenne Headley’s son Nash was almost four years old, he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, an aggressive cancer that targets bone marrow and blood. Doctors needed to act immediately to save the pale, lethargic boy’s life, but first he needed multiple blood transfusions to counter his severe anemia.
“When he first got sick, he was very, very anemic. He had to have quite a bit of blood before they could even get started with treatment,” explained his mother. “So it was imperative in getting started.”
She is grateful to the doctors and nurses who treated him, as well as the donors whose blood saved his life.
“We were so thankful that they (the doctors) had everything that they needed on hand,” she said.
The American Red Cross states that cancer patients use a quarter of the country’s blood supply. Some need transfusions because their cancer, like Nash’s, targets blood or white blood cell production. Others need them because their chemotherapy treatments damage bone marrow.
Donating blood is quick and relatively easy, but the good it does is immeasurable to Headley.
“It may not seem like a big deal, but to someone else, you’re saving their whole world. My children are my whole world and I am so thankful for all the people that have stepped up in so many ways — whether it be to donate to St. Jude, whether it be to donate blood, it all goes hand in hand and we’re just blessed and so thankful,” she said.
The Daily American Republic and American Red Cross are sponsoring a community blood drive from 12:30-5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Mar. 8, at the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce located at 1111 W. Pine St. The event takes place in the chamber’s community room.