Myah O’Dell’s mother recently expressed her gratitude for those who donated blood to help keep the 2-year-old Arizona City girl alive.
Michelle Garrison, Myah's mother, said she feels a debt of gratitude to every donor whose blood helped save her daughter’s life, the Arizona City Independent reported. Myah was born with hemoglobin SD, a form of sickle cell disease, and she has received upwards of 30 blood transfusions since infancy, the article said.
Garrison said in regards to her daughter’s sickness, “The scary thing about that first blood transfusion is that it was right before the holidays when supplies are always low. I remember the nurse saying ‘I hope we have enough blood,’” the article said.
Since her daughter and many others are victim to this disease, Garrison and her family have become advocates fighting for an increase of blood donations, the Arizona City Independent article said. To raise awareness, the family started the campaign "Sleeves Up For Myah," which has been a rallying cry for many local blood donation drives, the article said.
The effort encourages blood donations and helping others in need.
Casa Grande Emergency Assistance Ministry will be holding a blood drive from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m on Saturday, Feb. 4, at the St. Anthony of Padua Community Center, 150 N. Dry Lake St., Casa Grande.