Trevor Kott

How You Can Help

Posted on 18. Dec, 2009 by admin.

“ Trevor was dependent on blood products, donated so generously by the community, to keep him alive throughout his entire life. This included whole blood, platelets and plasma donations. He would not have survived even two days without these blood donations.” Bob Kott, Trevor’s father

Find your local blood center at
aabb.org or americasblood.org

Greater Sacramento Area – www.bloodsource.org

What is a whole blood donation?

This is what people usually do when donating
on a bloodmobile or at a community blood
drive. Whole blood donations are vital for
collecting red blood cells that carry oxygen.

What are platelets?
Platelets help with clotting and control bleeding.
When they are extracted they are a yellowish
color. They only have a five day shelf life, and
can be donated separately.

What’s plasma?
Plasma is the watery fluid that holds all the
blood components and contains essential
proteins. Plasma can be frozen up to one year.
In most centers, only men can donate plasma
used for patient transfusions. Plasma can be
donated separately from whole blood.

Donate blood

Whole blood can be donated every eight weeks. Platelets and plasma can
be donated more frequently. Just ask your blood center professionals!

www.bloodsource.org

Continue Reading

Caleb McNitt

Posted on 18. Dec, 2009 by admin.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Be The Match will no longer be asking for fees to get swabbed!!  Of course there are fees involved and if you can donate to Be The Match, please do.   Visit www.marrow.org and order your kit today!!

Caleb McNitt and the McNitt family need our help.  The McNitts were the first family to come into the hospital after Trevor was diagnosed to help our family with the new journey we were embarking upon.  They are the most geniun and generous people you could ever have the privilege of knowing.  Caleb was finishing his treatment when Trevor was diagnosed.  Caleb also has AML and had been in remission for close to three years.  He has now relapsed and the family needs us more than ever.  Please consider giving blood, platelets and “Get Swabbed” in honor of Caleb and all the other families in need.

Caleb’s survival right now is totally dependent on our community.  He would not survive without blood, platelets and a bone marrow transplant.  We all can make a difference…

Here’s a link to a video that we put together of two people who went on and donated their marrow in honor of Trevor.  Many people are very fearful of the process which keeps them from getting swabbed.  I think this video really helps take the mystery and fear away:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-5uMu9UzNI

Important websites for more information:

www.marrow.org – Be The Match bone marrow registry
www.bloodsource.org – to donate platelets and blood

Continue Reading