Cancer patients utilize about a fourth of blood donations, and with the American Red Cross facing a severe blood shortage, thousands of patients need your help. In Vermont, the Red Cross needs to collect 80 pints of whole blood every day just to meet hospital demand.Iggy Gorska, 11, from Winooski is battling acute lymphocytic leukemia. Over the course of four months, he’s needed at least 30 blood transfusions. “Since he’s on strong chemo drugs, his body does not produce platelets on its own when his numbers drop very low. His red blood cells get affected even though it’s trying to kill the bad cells – all the good cells in his body get affected by it,” said Iggy’s mom Barbarajean Gorska. The Red Cross requires you to weigh at least 110 lbs. to donate blood. If you have received a COVID-19 shot recently, there is no waiting period before you can donate.NBC5 is teaming up with the Red Cross for a community-wide blood drive this coming Friday.They are being held across our region – including Vermont, northern New York and western New Hampshire.The Red Cross says the “…shelf life of red blood cells is 42 days. Help replenish the much-needed supply and you will save multiple lives.”
Cancer patients utilize about a fourth of blood donations, and with the American Red Cross facing a severe blood shortage, thousands of patients need your help.
In Vermont, the Red Cross needs to collect 80 pints of whole blood every day just to meet hospital demand.
Iggy Gorska, 11, from Winooski is battling acute lymphocytic leukemia. Over the course of four months, he’s needed at least 30 blood transfusions.
Advertisement
“Since he’s on strong chemo drugs, his body does not produce platelets on its own when his numbers drop very low. His red blood cells get affected even though it’s trying to kill the bad cells – all the good cells in his body get affected by it,” said Iggy’s mom Barbarajean Gorska.
The Red Cross requires you to weigh at least 110 lbs. to donate blood. If you have received a COVID-19 shot recently, there is no waiting period before you can donate.
NBC5 is teaming up with the Red Cross for a community-wide blood drive this coming Friday.
They are being held across our region – including Vermont, northern New York and western New Hampshire.
The Red Cross says the “…shelf life of red blood cells is 42 days. Help replenish the much-needed supply and you will save multiple lives.”
