For patients in need of blood products the act of blood donation is a 'miracle' and blood donors are 'miracle workers'.
This week, Canadian Blood Services is launching its annual "Holiday Miracle" campaign and is counting on Canadians to help meet patient need by collecting 75,000 blood donations nationally - including more than 5,000 donations in Saskatchewan.
The CBS will be in the Energy City Monday for a drive at the Estevan Leisure Centre. The drive will run from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
In a press release, the CBS highlighted the story of the Haaland family from Hanley, who joined them last week in Saskatoon to kick off the campaign in the province and share their holiday miracle story.
Brothers Cadence and Cohen Haaland are regular blood product recipients. Both boys are living with agammaglobulinemia, a genetic condition that prevents the body from making proteins that protect the immune system and fight off infection.
The nine and seven-year-old need monthly injections of a product made from plasma, which is part of blood.
"Thankfully with monthly treatments these two active boys lead a fairly normal life. It is you, the blood donors that make this possible. We are forever grateful to have the opportunities that we do because of miracle workers like you," said Carissa Haaland, mother of Cadence and Cohen.
"Holiday miracles do exist," said Canadian Blood Services Community Development Coordinator Michelle Miller. "The generosity of one stranger to another in our clinics often means helping to save a life."
To be a patient's Holiday Miracle, please:
1. Call 1-888-2-Donate (1-888-236-283) or go online at www.blood.ca to book an appointment to donate blood.
2. Share your holiday miracle story on Canadian Blood Services' Facebook page: www.facebook.com/SaskatchewanBlood and on Twitter #giveamiracle
3. Give in honour of Cadence and Cohen, or someone close to you by encouraging your workplace to adopt a recipient and as a group give the number of donations that one patient may need.
