FAIRFIELD, Ohio — It’s the wish of one local teenager battling cancer to have everyone in the greater Cincinnati community give blood and platelets during October to help save or improve the lives of other people facing similar situations.
What You Need To Know
- The William's Wish blood drive will take place through Oct. 31 in greater Cincinnati
- Davis, 18, has leukemia, and wants to give back to the community that's supported him
- A kickoff event is set for Friday, Oct. 7 at Fairfield High School
- Hoxworth Blood Center is looking for donors and Type O blood
William Davis, 18, is battling leukemia, a form of blood cancer. Over the course of his treatment, the Liberty Township resident realized how vital blood donations are to kids with critical illnesses.
With the help of Make-A-Wish, Davis is working to inspire new donors to give blood and platelets and save lives.
Starting Friday, various partners will take part in William’s Wish, a month-long blood drive. A kickoff event is set for 8 a.m. at Fairfield Senior High School.
“During treatment, I realized the need and importance of blood donation and I want to thank the community that has supported me during my ongoing battle,” said Davis, a senior at Fairfield High School. “My hope is to encourage new donors and encourage existing donors to continue to donate.”
Davis, who celebrated his 18th birthday Sept. 30, hosted another blood drive at his school in September. More than 150 people gave blood during the event. The turnout was so great that some had to go on a waiting list, according to Rebecca Salyers, the school’s assistant principal. Salyers donated as well.
The school district is hosting Friday’s blood drive in connection with the high school’s homecoming activities and to honor Davis for his sacrifices, Salyers said. She described it as a “pep rally” for Davis.
Fairfield’s homecoming is Saturday.
”He’s just always had a positive attitude going through this entire thing," said Salyers, who has a photo in her office of Davis giving a thumbs-up sign just before receiving a treatment. Davis has received at least 58 units of blood since being diagnosed last fall, his family told Salyers.
“It just says a lot about who he is,” she added. “William has been so supportive of this community as he’s gone through this, and you can tell his classmates are eager to support him in any way they can.”
The drive is a partnership between Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Hoxworth Blood Center — University of Cincinnati.
“William selflessly chose a wish that will positively impact countless people, and we’re so grateful to Hoxworth for helping make this community blood drive possible,” said Stephanie McCormick, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.
Since its founding in 1983, Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana has granted 19,000 wishes for children across the three states. Many of those wishes are for things like meeting a celebrity or fulfilling a fantasy, like a trip to an amusement park.
What made Davis’ request pretty unique is he focused on helping other people, McCormick said.
“William’s wish really is a shining example of the power of a wish to transform lives and unite communities,” she said.
Blood transfusions are common medical procedures given to people who’ve suffered blood loss in an event like a surgery or car crash. Individuals with an illness that causes anemia, such as leukemia or kidney disease, often need transfusions as well.
There are 21 million blood transfusions in the United States each year, according to the American Red Cross.
Hoxworth serves more than 30 hospitals in 18 counties in southwestern Ohio, Northern Kentucky and southeastern Indiana. The center collects more than 100,000 units of blood from local donors every year.
Right now, the focus is on platelets and Type O-positive and Type O-negative blood donors, according to Jackie Marschall, a spokesperson for Hoxworth. She said Type O is the “universal blood type.”
Community members willing to donate blood or platelets can do so in his name at any of Hoxworth’s seven neighborhood donor centers through Oct. 31.
Donors can write inspirational messages to Davis at the donor centers. He’ll receive them as a present at the end of the month.
To donate blood or platelets in honor of Davis, a person needs to make an appointment. A person can call 513-451-0910 or do so online at hoxworth.org.
Donors should use the group code of C248 at the time of donation so it gets tracked for Davis’ wish.