Give Someone like Lauren a Holiday Miracle
Nearly 100,000 life-saving “miracles” needed to help hospital patients

December 3, 2012 (Ottawa) – During the season of giving, you could give someone their holiday miracle. Between December 3rd and January 2nd, Canadian Blood Services is asking Canadians to give someone a holiday miracle – the gift of blood. Nearly 100,000 life-saving “miracles” are needed for hospital patients from coast to coast. Many hospital patients will spend their holiday receiving cancer treatment or undergoing life-saving surgery and emergency care – someone like Lauren.

Lauren was only two years old when she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of kidney cancer. During treatment, she required transfusions of more than twice her body’s total blood volume. Today, Lauren is a healthy, active 15-year-old and, more importantly, is cancer free.

“As I sat by Lauren's bedside during her treatment, I saw the blood that went into her and how each and every transfusion brought life into her,” says Lauren's mother, Carolyn. “As a result of the selflessness and generosity of blood donors, Lauren has spent the past 14 holiday seasons at home with her family.”

Help someone in your community who needs blood as much as Lauren did. There are plenty of opportunities to donate blood this holiday season. Making a blood donation before or after the holidays helps ensure an adequate supply for those in need. Please bring a friend or family member and donate either just before or after the holiday season. Book your appointment at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888-236-6283) or online at www.blood.ca. To help meet the continuing need for blood, donors who have an appointment in the coming weeks are urged to honour it.

About Canadian Blood Services
Canadian Blood Services is a national, not-for-profit charitable organization that manages the supply of blood and blood products in all provinces and territories outside of Quebec. Canadian Blood Services also oversees the OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network, and provides national leadership for organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Canadian Blood Services operates 42 permanent collection sites and more than 20,000 donor clinics annually. The provincial and territorial Ministries of Health provide operational funding to Canadian Blood Services. The federal government, through Health Canada, is responsible for regulating the blood system.

Follow us on Twitter @itsinyoutogive, visit our official Facebook page and see our YouTube channel at 18882DONATE

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For more information contact:
Veronica Magee
National Communications Specialist
Canadian Blood Services
Tel: 1-905-304-6521
Cell: 1-905-520-5593
Email: veronica.magee@blood.ca