Eleven-year-old Addyson Church is facing a battle no child should endure. Addyson was diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in February of 2023. Within four days of diagnosis, she was admitted into the PICU on dialysis, and in need of several blood and platelet transfusions.
“It is very concerning that there is a lack of blood since the pandemic. Especially when you have people like Addyson over here who need blood a lot,” said Kristy Davis, Addyson’s mom. “She’s had 27 or 28 bags the entire time that she's been diagnosed. And every bag is really important,” Kristy said.
ALL is the most common type of childhood cancer. It occurs when the body makes too many lymphocytes, which is a type of white blood cell that helps your body fight disease and infection. Blood products from donors are needed to help patients like Addyson feel better throughout treatment. However, Kristy says it was terrifying for her to see Addyson be transfused with someone else's blood. But Addyson says she can quickly feel a difference.
“It's very scary. So, I am very thankful for the blood and supply I've gotten because it’s very useful. At first, it may have been weird, it may have felt weird, but once I started getting more of it, it made me feel better,” Addyson said. “Once I start getting blood after like half of it and I feel I feel good, like rainbows and sparkles and unicorns. All of the pretty stuff."
While Kristy had never donated before Addyson’s cancer battle, she decided to face her fears to help more kids like her daughter.
“It's kind of hit me one day. I was I was just sitting there going, I've never donated, and my kid has received so many bags of blood and she wouldn't be alive without it. I need to do something. So, I decided I was going to donate, did it the first time, and I will do it every single time that I can from now on,” Kristy said.
Addyson has a message to other blood donors.
“There’s one more thing I would like to say. Thank you for all the people who donate. I know that it takes a lot. So, thank you,” Addyson said.
From all of us at Our Blood Institute, we wish Addyson and her family a healthy and happy holiday season.
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