Because their infant sons Christian and Lukas needed a staggering number of lifesaving blood transfusions – 104 and 48 respectively – Kristopher and Lisa Roehler intensely understand why donors are so needed.
“It definitely takes on a different meaning for us,” Lisa said Friday, during a blood donor clinic they hold a couple of times a year for family and friends to honour Christian and Lukas. Christian died at the age of 15 months in September of 2008, as a result of complications from a stem cell transplant they hoped would cure him of a rare immune deficiency blood disorder called Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.
Lukas, born in 2011, was diagnosed with the same syndrome, and after his 48 transfusions he also received a stem cell transplant, which this time was very successful. So successful, his mom said, that his doctor jokes that Lukas is a “boring patient.”
She said the need for donors really hit home on one particular occasion when Christian was quite sick and needed an immediate transfusion, but had to wait eight hours for blood to arrive from out of town. “That really put things in perspective,” she said.
When they add up all the blood donations made in honour of their sons since 2009, the number tops 450, said Kristopher, a teacher at Holy Names high school.
“We’re going to keep going (holding clinics), because we’ve seen the other side of this, receiving the blood.” Holding the clinic, he said, “is a tangible way to give back, and it keeps the memory of Christian alive for us.”
The Roehlers brought Lukas, 2, and his older sister Emilia, 3, to Friday’s clinic at the Canadian Blood Services site at 3909 Grand Marais Road East. The clinic was busy as about 30 friends and family turned up to donate.
“Seeing them go though their journey and seeing the benefits of blood donation, it’s just a blessing,” friend Melissa Lafontaine said of donating blood. She’s a Blood Services regular, giving as often as she’s allowed – every 56 days. And each time, her donation is made in honour of the Roehlers’ sons.
Another friend, Carlos DaSilva, said he has a very common blood type, O-positive, so he knows his donation is needed.
“When I found out they were doing this, for the two boys, it made sense, a no brainer,” he said.
The Roehlers are one of more than 100 local families and organizations involved in the Partners For Life program, in which the groups pledge to donate a certain number of units.
“We’re seeing firsthand with this family what blood and blood products (both boys required platelets) can do, and there are hundreds of families like them out there,” said Blood Services community development co-ordinator Maureen Macfarlane.
The groups in the Partners For Life program range in size from the local Chrysler workforce, to family-and-friends groups like the Roehlers. “It’s really anyone who wants to participate with us and get those dedicated units in every year,” said Macfarlane. Knowing those units are coming helps Blood Services plan better and meet the needs of local hospitals, she said.
She made an appeal for more people to donate before and after New Years Day. There tend to be fewer people donating this time of the year because the Blood Services site is closed on the holidays. Meanwhile, demand for blood increases because there are more people on the road, and therefore more traffic accidents, she said.
“Blood is perishable, especially platelets – which are part of blood,” she said. Platelets have a shelf life of just five days. “That means giving blood immediately before or after holidays, like New Year’s Day, is critical at this time of year.”
Macfarlane said Blood Services is experiencing a decline in the number of donors. She doesn’t know why.
“Society as a whole is busier, but we’re asking people to carve out that hour,” she said. Regular donors spend one hour donating blood six times a year.
“Where else can you give six hours a year and help save lives?”
To book an appointment to donate, call 1-888-2-DONATE.
