Blood Drive Planned Thursday In Memory Of Hudson County Boy

Hoboken NJ

15 June, 2022

9:30 AM

Description

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — Michael Romano received hundreds of blood transfusions over the course of his cancer treatment, and now his family wants to ensure there is enough blood for others in need. New Jersey Blood Services (NJBS) is hosting a blood drive this Thursday from 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Senior Community Center (note, not Serenity Club) in Bayonne. The drive is in loving memory of the former Hudson County resident, who died of neuroblastoma, a pediatric cancer. Michael was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at the age of four. He underwent chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, stem cell transplant and several experimental therapies, receiving hundreds of blood transfusions over the course of his 7-year treatment. Michael passed away at the age of 11. He would have turned 28 years old this year. In celebration of Michael's life, his family would like the community to consider donating blood, as a way to both keep his memory alive and ensure there are life-saving blood donations for others who may need it. Michael was a student at Midtown Community School, he loved baseball and fishing, playing for the Bayonne Cal Ripken League. He was an involved and beloved member of his community even as a young boy. The Bayonne community rallied around him, collecting donations while he was in treatment and hospitalized. The blood center said, "We are taking extra precautions to help prevent the person-to-person spread of COVID-19. As always, people are not eligible to donate if they're experiencing a cold, sore throat, respiratory infection or flu-like symptoms. Additional information on donor eligibility and COVID-19 precautions is available here." WHEN: Thursday, June 16, 2022, from 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. WHERE: Serenity Club, 16 W 4th St Bayonne, NJ 07002 WHO: Blood Donors, Volunteers and New Jersey Blood Services representatives WHY: It only takes one hour to donate, and a single donation can save multiple lives. Roughly one in seven hospital admissions require a blood transfusion. Those in need include: cancer patients, accident, burn, or trauma victims, newborn babies and their mothers, transplant recipients, surgery patients, chronically transfused patients suffering from sickle cell disease or thalassemia, and many more. To make an appointment at this blood drive, donors can call 1-800-933-2566 or visit this this link. Founded in 1964, New York Blood Center (NYBC) is a nonprofit organization. NYBC, along with its operating divisions, collects approximately 4,000 units of blood products each day and serves local communities of more than 75 million people in the Tri-State area and others. NYBC and its divisions also provide transfusion-related medical services to over 500 hospitals nationally, including a research institute that developed a screening method and vaccine for hepatitis B.