Date: Fri 15-May-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: SUZANN

Quick Words:

health-Ward-blood-drive

Full Text:

Donors Overwhelm Blood Drive

(with photo)

A second blood drive dedicated to Sandy Hook resident Thomas Ward was set for

Friday, May 15, from 1:30 to 6:30 pm at Newtown Health & Fitness to

accommodate potential donors who had to be turned away at Monday's event.

Elaine Woody of the Western Connecticut chapter of the American Red Cross said

so many people showed up to donate blood on Monday that it simply wasn't

possible to accommodate all of them.

"It was an unbelievable day," she said. "We processed 162 people and got 148

units of blood. People came in the pouring rain. There wasn't enough parking

so they parked across the street and walked. What a great town Newtown is to

respond in such an overwhelming way."

The Red Cross hopes to get at least 60 pints at Friday's blood drive.

The son of Laurie and Michael Ward, Thomas Ward was diagnosed with a rare bone

cancer called Ewing's sarcoma after experiencing swelling and pain in his left

leg. A treatable form of bone cancer, Ewing's sarcoma afflicts primarily

children and adolescents.

As part of his treatment, Thomas, a seventh-grade student at Newtown Middle

School, is undergoing chemotherapy and needs platelet transfusions. Donors of

all types are needed to make platelets, which are a fragile component made

from whole blood.

Platelets collected through blood donations help patients until their own

bodies can supply the platelets needed to control bleeding. Platelets have a

short lifespan of only five days.

It is not necessary to make an appointment for the blood drive. All walk-ins

will be accommodated, Ms Woody said.