I don't know that I am able to do this with a hell of a lot of grace, but I'm hoping the rule of thumb is, "Better to do it badly and honestly than not at all."
I got an email from an old high school friend the other day that started like this, "Ok, so I know this is completely begging, groveling, and not PC, but..."
The story she told was of the son of a friend of hers... a six year-old boy who she'd gotten to know because of her own son's illness... a six year-old boy who is currently staying at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital in Cleveland and is in critical condition... a six year-old boy who has Mitochondrial Disease Complex III & IV, Arnold Chiari malformation, Eosinophilic Esophagitis, and an IgA immune deficiency... a six year-old boy who is in desperate need of a blood transfusion.
The boy's name is Aaron Czup.
On top of the obvious, there are other unfortunate twists and turns... a sibling that has already passed away in unrelated circumstances... a father who has just lost his job... but the bottom line is: Aaron has AB- blood with IgA deficiency and he needs to find a donor who is AB- with an IgA deficiency.
That person, so far, has yet to materialize.
I've been trading emails with my friend - Ann Marie - and doing everything I can to verify each piece of the story (damn the cynicism of the internet age) and just figured in the little window before the Vice Presidential "waiting" became the Vice Presidential "reality" (which will quickly morph into a Vice Presidential "feeding frenzy") I'd ask... might there be anyone here who has AB- blood (or even possibly the universal donor O-) with an IgA deficiency?
If so, that's Aaron's photo on the right.
And if so here's a link to Aaron's information.
And if so here's the contact information for the hospital: Rainbow Babies and children's hospital
11100 Euclid Ave, Cleveland. 216-844-7700
And if so feel free to drop me a line at my email or email Ann Marie at annemarierobbins@gmail.com.
And if not... consider... maybe in this period of waiting... stopping by at your local hospital or Red Cross and giving blood, just... well... because.
UPDATE: Thanks to all who have responded. I've forward everyone's email on to my contact Anne Marie, who, unfortunately, is currently at a doctors appointment with her own son. As soon as she gets back I'm sure she'll respond to you and me. Really appreciate all the kindness and compassion.