Collecting enough blood donations to meet the constant need was a challenge for the American Red Cross before the coronavirus pandemic. That’s why one Metro Detroit family wants to make sure that blood is always there for anyone who needs it. “Without that transfusion, we wouldn’t have been able to make the step two, step three, step four.”Throughout her treatment, blood was critical. The family speaks about their gratitude for her blood donors every day. READ: American Red Cross hosting blood drive in Metro Detroit this weekAppointments are strongly encouraged.

You might remember reading about 4-year old Lena back when she was one of the many kids kicking cancer. “What our mission is -- we send children’s favorite characters to visit them,” said Crowns Against Cancer co-founder Ilinca Caluser. Initially the organization just visited children fighting cancer but now includes any child with any illness or special needs. During the pandemic they are seeing children beyond Metro Detroit and Michigan. “The Carr Center is a multi-disciplinary arts organization,” said Sarah Norat-Phillips, from the Carr Center.

Local 4 has partnered with Gardner-White Furniture to hold blood drives across Metro Detroit. Lena Kaczur was only 18 months old when her mom Amanda Kaczur noticed a rash, that rash turned out to be something called Petechiae. Lena received 15 rounds of blood transfusions of red blood, 14 rounds of platelet transfusions, and two rounds of plasma transfusions. Organizations and businesses like Gardner-White Furniture step forward at times like these to help relieve the shortage. We have the blood drive and give as often as they can,” Gardner-White Furniture CEO Steve T. said.