MEDIC Regional Blood Center is working with two East Tennessee families whose children were hospitalized after being infected with E. coli.
In June, several children were treated at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital for E. coli. At least three of those patients received lifesaving blood products as part of their treatment. Now, the community is being asked to donate blood on behalf of the children in order to help with the medical expenses related to their transfusions.
Temple Baptist Church at 1700 W. Beaver Creek Road in Powell is hosting a blood drive on Tuesday, July 10th for William Zenker. The drive will be in the church gym from 12pm-7pm.
A separate blood drive will be held on Sunday, July 29th at All Saints Catholic Church, 620 North Cedar Bluff Road, from 10am-5pm. This drive will help support Anthony and Genevieve Schiding.
The community is invited to donate at these drives for the benefit of the respective families. All blood types are needed.
Donors do not have to donate at these specific blood drives. Anyone wishing to help can donate blood at any MEDIC blood drive for the next several months. A donor simply needs to indicate at the time of donation they are giving on behalf of the Zenker or Schiding family.
All three children became sick after reportedly drinking raw milk, but each family has recently provided positive reports of continued improvement in the health the children.
The families will benefit thanks to MEDIC’s one-of-a-kind membership program. Those who donate blood with MEDIC at least once a year earn a membership credit which covers some transfusion related costs for them and their IRS dependents. Donors can give up the credit they earn when donating to help someone who has recently used blood. This is what MEDIC is encouraging donors to do: give their credit to the Zenker or Schiding families.
Anyone who donates at one of the above drives or any other MEDIC blood drive will get a t-shirt and a free appetizer from Texas Roadhouse.
A list of all of MEDIC’s blood drives as well as donor eligibility information can be found at medicblood.org or by calling (865) 524-3074.
