Blood drive to be held in honor of Calhoun High School student.
Public blood drive to be held on Thursday, March 16 for local cancer patient and CHS freshman Garrett Jordan
On Thursday, March 16, Blood Assurance will hold a public blood drive from 8:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at Calhoun High School in honor of Garrett Jordan, a Calhoun High School freshman who was diagnosed with Lymphoblastic Lymphoma earlier this year.
Garrett’s parents, Michael and Sarah Roberson, credit pediatric cardiologist Dr. Henaro Sabino for saving Garrett’s life when they rushed him to the emergency room at Floyd Medical Center on Jan. 24. A large mass was discovered just two days later, and Garrett is now undergoing chemotherapy treatments at T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital in Chattanooga.
The community is invited to show their support for Garrett and help replenish the blood supply by making a donation in his honor at the March 16 blood drive.
Taylor Jordan, a Calhoun High School senior, contacted Blood Assurance to coordinate the blood drive in honor of her brother Garrett. Taylor understands the relief that cancer patients, such as her brother, experience when receiving platelets, so she was determined to do her part to help her brother, as well as the many other cancer patients in the community who rely on whole blood and platelet donations.
“We are grateful Taylor gave us a call and that Garrett’s family is allowing us the opportunity to walk with them through this journey to help Garrett and other patients like him,” said Mandy Perry, community liaison for Blood Assurance.
Blood Assurance believes in the power of “honor drives” for victims who required blood donations due to a trauma situation or ongoing illness. The host may choose to invite relatives, friends, coworkers and community members who would be willing to make a blood donation in support of the patient. The blood drive may be held at any Blood Assurance donor center or on the organization’s bloodmobile at a location agreed upon by the host and location owner.
Big John’s Treat Shop of Calhoun will be donating 75 biscuits for Garrett Jordan’s honor drive on March 16. More information about Garrett Jordan and the honor drive can be found on the Facebook page dedicated to his cancer journey. Garrett has three additional siblings: Caitlin Roberson, 15, Brylynn Johnson, 8, and Ricky Johnson, 7. Calhoun High School is located at 355 S River St, Calhoun, GA 30701.
Blood Assurance’s Rome donor center is located at 166 Shorter Avenue Northwest in the Midtown Crossing shopping center behind Chick-Fil-A. Blood Assurance’s Cartersville donor center is located at 921 B Joe Frank Harris Parkway SE across from the Cartersville Medical Center.
To be eligible to donate blood, you must be at least 18 years old (17 and 16 years old with parental consent), weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health. Donors are asked to drink plenty of fluids - avoiding caffeine - and eat a meal that is rich in iron prior to donating. For more information on Blood Assurance, donating blood or hosting a blood drive, please visit www.bloodassurance.org.
Blood Assurance is a non-profit, full-service regional blood center serving 51 counties and more than 76 health care facilities in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and Virginia. Founded in 1972 as a joint effort of the ChattanoogaHamilton County Medical Society, the Chattanooga Area Hospital Council, and the Chattanooga Jaycees, the mission of Blood Assurance is to provide a safe and adequate supply of blood and blood components to every area patient in need. Blood Assurance is based in Chattanooga, Tennessee.