Blood

Rosalie was admitted to the hospital for the day to receive two blood transfusions. The first was a red cell transfusion and the second was a platelet transfusion. Radiation affects blood production because it attacks the marrow in the skull and vertebrae.

So this is the time in Rosalie's treatment where I make my public service announcement for giving blood.

Cancer patients need healthy donors like you :)

We have been touched to learn that many of you have begun giving blood since learning of Rosy's diagnosis. On her sixteenth birthday, our niece Julie told us that she was excited because she was now old enough to give blood. How many 16 year olds even know they can give blood?! What an angel.

And just to anticipate a question, we are not requesting that any blood be donated on Rosalie's behalf. We prefer to use anonymous donors. Should Rosalie ever have a reaction to a blood product we would never want to be able to point any fingers.