Blood drive in Cranford honors 7-year-old battling leukemia amid regional blood shortage
A blood drive was hosted in honor of Megan Stitz, a first grader diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) just one week before Thanksgiving
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Blood donors turned out to The VFW in Cranford on Wednesday to support a 7-year-old girl battling an aggressive form of leukemia.
A blood drive was hosted in honor of Megan Stitz, a first grader diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) just one week before Thanksgiving. Megan relies on regular blood transfusions as part of her treatment and is currently waiting for a bone marrow transplant.
“Megan is full of life. She’s so spunky. Her smile lights up the room. She has a great, bubbly personality and loves all the girly things, makeup, glitter, you name it,” said her aunt, Nicole Coughlin.
Megan is being treated at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
“She is undergoing chemo treatments now at CHOP in Philadelphia, and is in need of a bone marrow transplant sometime in the spring in order for a successful cure,” Nicole said.
The blood drive was organized by Megan’s family with New Jersey Blood Services, both to support care for situations like hers and to help address a widening blood shortage caused by recent winter storms.
“About a week and a half ago, we had the big snowstorm. We lost every single blood drive on that Sunday,” said Genevieve Toscano with The New York Blood Bank. “We had to cancel all of our blood drives, and all of our donor centers were closed that day as well.”
According to NJBS, there is currently only a three-day blood supply across the tri-state area. Blood types O-negative, O-positive and B-negative are at critically low levels, with roughly a one-day supply remaining for each.
Megan’s story has already prompted widespread support. A GoFundMe fundraiser for her family has raised nearly $140,000, but relatives say ongoing help is still needed, not only for Megan, but for other patients who depend on blood donations.
“They can donate blood anywhere that fits into their schedule,” Nicole said. “Or we are hosting a bone marrow drive on Saturday in Berkeley Heights at the YMCA to find a donor match for her.”
That bone marrow drive is scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Berkeley Heights YMCA.
