Helping Hands

5th Annual Friends of Etai Blood Drive

SUNDAY DECEMBER 7th 2003

AT HEWITT ELEMENTARY

BLOOD DRIVE AND BONE MARROW REGISTRY

GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE TODAY

What's Involved in Donating Blood?

Donating blood is actually quite simple, and it takes only about an hour from beginning to end.

In any single session, a donor gives one unit of blood. A unit is slightly less than one pint (approximately 450 milliliters). The average adult has between 10 and 12 pints of blood and can easily spare one. And that one pint of blood is vitally needed — there is no substitute for human blood!

The need for blood concerns everyone. Nine out of ten of us will need blood at some point in our lives, and one out of every ten hospital patients requires a transfusion. Although the average transfusion is three units of blood, often patients need more.

Blood is in constant demand for treatment of accident cases, cancer victims, hemophiliacs and for use during surgeries. Blood is also used for open heart surgery patients and people undergoing dialysis while waiting for a kidney transplant. New Mothers and newborns sometimes need blood, too. The need for blood never takes time off.

HEWITT ELEMENTARY STUDENTS GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE 2002

Hewitt Elementary Students Stephen Garcia, Aaron Atlas, Molly Byrne, Sara Rosenthal, Dorothy Caccavale, Kayce Robinson, Melanie Fronco and Etai Klein join Mr. Joe Paluseo in “The Friends of Etai” blood and bone marrow drive.

Blood and Bone Marrow Drive Is a Huge Success

Since Etai Klein was diagnosed with leukemia at six years of age, he and his family have endured some difficult times, with Etai having undergone many blood transfusions. But he and his mother, Gila, believe that something good has come out of their situation. Now a bright and healthy fifth grader at Hewitt Elementary School in Rockville Centre, Etai and his classmates are helping to save lives with “The Friends of Etai” blood and bone marrow drive.

It started four years ago to support the Klein family and to raise awareness of his disease and has grown into a popular community event. “None of this would have been possible without the community of Rockville Centre and Hewitt Elementary,” Etai said. Their project is part of Newsday's FutureCorps, which involves thousands of students across Long Island and Queens in community service.

Dorothy Caccavale wants people to know that while Etai is better, “there are many people who are sick and need blood.” “We are trying to get as many people as we can to come so we can help as many people as we can,” Kayce Robinson added. Stephen Garcia added, “It doesn’t hurt and it only takes a few minutes.” “I think it’s really great we’re doing this around Christmas, because the best present a [sick person] could get is blood or bone marrow,” said Sara Rosenthal. Hewitt’s drive has proven a huge success.

In the past three years, two blood donors have been matches for people on the national bone marrow registry. “Good things come out of everything,” Etai’s mother said. “Somewhere two people have a second chance at life.” Etai added, “Give the gift you can’t wrap – give the gift of life.”

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