Blood Donors Saved My Life Imagine being a healthy, happy 12-year- old boy enjoying family and friends-then suddenly having your life forever changed by a cancer diagnosis. That's exactly what happened to Jasiah. Last year, he was diagnosed with an extremely rare brain tumor known as Intracranial Sarcoma. A born fighter, Jasiah recently finished treatment at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, where he underwent aggres- sive chemotherapy and radiation. Throughout his cancer journey Jasiah has received multiple blood transfusions and platelets, which helped keep him strong enough to continue his fight. "Blood do- nation is always needed, and can save the lives of so many people," said his mom Kasey. "By donating blood, you will help maintain the community blood supply to help my son and patients like him." If you are healthy and eligible, please consider giving blood through Vitalant. The majority of people in the US are eligible to donate blood, but only 3% actually do. As a result, there is critical blood shortage right now. Kasey, Jasiah's mom, donated blood for the first time in honor of her son and other patients who need blood to survive. Please schedule an appointment to donate by visiting Vitalant.org or call- ing 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825). when you donate blood through Vitalant, it most likely helps a patient right here in our community. Vitalant is the blood provider for a number of hospitals in the South Hills and Washington County, in- cluding AHN Brentwood, AHN Canons- burg Hospital, AHN Jefferson Hospital, St. Clair Health, Washington Health System, as well as all other AHN and UPMC hospi- tals in the greater Pittsburgh area. To care for their patients, these hospitals re- quire about 600 blood donations every day. Prior to the pandemic, our community do- nated only about half this amount of blood, forcing Vitalant to import blood from other cities. But today, donations are even lower and only about a third of the blood these hospitals need is collected locally. Our country is experiencing a shortage of blood donors Why is this happening? The number of people donating blood has been declin- ing for years, but COVID-19 and its shel- ter-in-place policies dealt a devastating blow. Even though the pandemic emer- gency has officially ended, a significant number of blood donors have not come back, a significant number of blood do- nors have not come back. This may be because many businesses, schools and places of worship that used to host on- site blood drives have not resumed oper- ating in-person. At the same time, Vitalant's blood do- nation centers have also experienced a decline. In contrast, hospitals' demand for blood is back at pre-pandemic levels, creating a serious problem which could eventually lead to a public health crisis. STRAIGHT OUTTA CHEMO Jasiah has remained strong throughout his cancer journey, thanks in great part to blood donors. Many convenient places to donate blood Vitalant makes it convenient to donate blood, offering 10 comfortable blood do- nation centers throughout the area, as well as daily community blood drives. The South Hills donation center, located in the open six days a week. Manor Building at 4701 Baptist Road, is Vitalant also offers regularly scheduled community blood drives at the following locations: Cameron Wellness Center in Washington the second and fourth Wednesday of each month .Center Presbyterian Church in McMurray the first and third Monday and last Saturday of each month Hampton Inn in Bridgeville on the second Tuesday of each month Sponsored content brought to you by vitalant Blood Donors Saved My Life Imagine being a healthy , happy 12 - year old boy enjoying family and friends - then suddenly having your life forever changed by a cancer diagnosis . That's exactly what happened to Jasiah . Last year , he was diagnosed with an extremely rare brain tumor known as Intracranial Sarcoma . A born fighter , Jasiah recently finished treatment at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh , where he underwent aggres sive chemotherapy and radiation . Throughout his cancer journey Jasiah has received multiple blood transfusions and platelets , which helped keep him strong enough to continue his fight . " Blood do nation is always needed , and can save the lives of so many people , " said his mom Kasey . " By donating blood , you will help maintain the community blood supply to help my son and patients like him . " If you are healthy and eligible , please consider giving blood through Vitalant . The majority of people in the US are eligible to donate blood , but only 3 % actually do . As a result , there is critical blood shortage right now . Kasey , Jasiah's mom , donated blood for the first time in honor of her son and other patients who need blood to survive . Please schedule an appointment to donate by visiting Vitalant.org or call ing 877-25 - VITAL ( 877-258-4825 ) . when you donate blood through Vitalant , it most likely helps a patient right here in our community . Vitalant is the blood provider for a number of hospitals in the South Hills and Washington County , in cluding AHN Brentwood , AHN Canons burg Hospital , AHN Jefferson Hospital , St. Clair Health , Washington Health System , as well as all other AHN and UPMC hospi tals in the greater Pittsburgh area . To care for their patients , these hospitals re quire about 600 blood donations every day . Prior to the pandemic , our community do nated only about half this amount of blood , forcing Vitalant to import blood from other cities . But today , donations are even lower and only about a third of the blood these hospitals need is collected locally . Our country is experiencing a shortage of blood donors Why is this happening ? The number of people donating blood has been declin ing for years , but COVID - 19 and its shel ter - in - place policies dealt a devastating blow . Even though the pandemic emer gency has officially ended , a significant number of blood donors have not come back , a significant number of blood do nors have not come back . This may be because many businesses , schools and places of worship that used to host on site blood drives have not resumed oper ating in - person . At the same time , Vitalant's blood do nation centers have also experienced a decline . In contrast , hospitals ' demand for blood is back at pre - pandemic levels , creating a serious problem which could eventually lead to a public health crisis . STRAIGHT OUTTA CHEMO Jasiah has remained strong throughout his cancer journey , thanks in great part to blood donors . Many convenient places to donate blood Vitalant makes it convenient to donate blood , offering 10 comfortable blood do nation centers throughout the area , as well as daily community blood drives . The South Hills donation center , located in the open six days a week . Manor Building at 4701 Baptist Road , is Vitalant also offers regularly scheduled community blood drives at the following locations : Cameron Wellness Center in Washington the second and fourth Wednesday of each month .Center Presbyterian Church in McMurray the first and third Monday and last Saturday of each month Hampton Inn in Bridgeville on the second Tuesday of each month Sponsored content brought to you by vitalant