GRAND RAPIDS, MI (June 20, 2007): It has taken Kathy Uzarski more than 10 years to make good on a promise to reach a blood-donation goal equaling the amount of blood her son, Jerry, used while being treated for leukemia – but almost exactly 12 years after he became ill, she finally will donate her 50th pint of blood at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 20, at Michigan Community Blood Centers, 1036 Fuller NE, Grand Rapids.

Her son, Jerry, now all grown up, will be with her as she fulfills her promise.

“I’ve never liked needles, and I’ve hated all the ‘pokes’,” said Mrs. Uzarski, 47, “but I’m so thankful for all the people who donated blood back when Jerry needed it, that’s what has helped keep me going.”

On June 30, 1995, Jerry Uzarski, then just 9 years old, was diagnosed with leukemia, which initially was complicated by a life-threatening infection. “He was in ICU for five days,” Mrs. Uzarski recalled. “They didn’t know if he would make it through the weekend. In all, he received 50 units of blood. Not once did I ever question whether the blood would be there. But thinking about it later, I realized the blood was there because people took the time to give it, and I was just so grateful.”

Mrs. Uzarski decided she would keep donating blood regularly until she had given at least as much as Jerry had used – and furthermore, she would keep her promise by the time Jerry turned 21. She later had to add 12 months to the span when a vacation to a region of Mexico where malaria is endemic caused her to be deferred from giving blood for a year. 

“That was a little discouraging because I’ve been pretty faithful about donating as often as I can,” she said. “But I just said okay, I’ll make it by the time he’s 22.”

Today Jerry, 21, works full time and goes to college. Currently he is completing an apprenticeship with a local engineering firm. 

Each day, patients in American hospitals receive approximately 38,000 units of blood. This year, 4.5 million patients will require blood transfusions. On average, one out of every five people entering the hospital will need blood. Besides caring for accident victims and surgical patients, blood is often needed to help people being treated for many kinds of diseases including cancer.

A nonprofit independent blood bank, Michigan Community Blood Centers provides 100% of the blood supply for hospitals in four major regions of the state, including Kent and Barry counties in West Michigan.

© Michigan Community Blood Centers