BLOOD ASSURANCE EMPLOYEES COME TO HER AID
Six-year old Katelyn Schuler was diagnosed in July, 2015, with Pre B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Since then she has received 12 whole blood and 10 platelet transfusions. “You don’t realize the gift of donors until you see your child without any good blood left in her body, said mom, Leslie Schuler. “She is alive because of the graciousness of donor blood.”
Blood Assurance is a non-profit, regional blood center and is a provider of blood and blood products to Maury Regional Medical Center. Blood supplies have been running low, as hospital usage has increased, a common struggle for most blood centers during the winter months.
“It is very scary for us now to see how low the national blood supply is. If anything good comes from Katelyn’s journey, it’s that we have seen an outpouring of blood donations in her honor.” said Schuler.
Many community members have been donating in honor of Katelyn, including her grandfather Arnold Salbato and Blood Assurance employees Steven Warf and John Bridges, distribution clerks in the Blood Assurance Columbia donation center. “More people need to donate if they can,” said Warf. “Its very rewarding to know that you are helping someone and that your donation might save a life.”
To see how you can help, visit Katelyns Journey on Facebook. The Columbia blood center is located at 1412 Trottwood Ave. and is open 9 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. To be eligible to donate blood, you must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent), weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health.
Donors are asked to drink plenty of fluids – avoiding caffeine – and eat a meal that is rich in iron prior to donating. For more information on Blood Assurance, donating blood or hosting a blood drive, please call 800-962-0628 or visit www.bloodassurance.org.
