The Power of Your Donation

When Tia was in kindergarten, she was diagnosed with Common Variable Immune Deficiency, a disorder that results in a decreased ability to appropriately produce antibodies and results in an increased susceptibility to infections. As a result, Tia requires frequent injections of gamma globulins, a product made from blood plasma donated by volunteer blood donors.

“It takes up to 2,000 blood donations to make one dose of the therapies Tia requires,” said Tia’s mother, Lauri. “Two years ago we tried to wean her intake down to every three months rather than every eight weeks, but her body doesn’t make enough antibodies on its own. She needs an adult dose.”

Until recently, the Carr family had been very private about Tia’s situation and were hesitant to share her story with the world. Even some of Tia’s closest friends weren’t aware of the severity of her disorder. Then one of Tia’s teachers suggested she help coordinate a blood drive.

“We decided to put it out in the open,” said Lauri. “We knew that by coordinating a blood drive we could help Tia and other people in need.”

The community rallied around Tia and responded by rolling up their sleeves to give blood. More than 80 people donated blood that day.

“We have a wide support system. The blood drive was standing room only and we saw a lot of first-time donors,” said Lauri.

It seems more than a coincidence that Tia requires blood products every eight weeks, the same timeframe for which eligible donors can give blood. Lauri hopes this fact is a compelling one that persuades others to give of themselves.

“I can’t tell you how thankful we are,” said Lauri. “Tia will live because people are willing to take an hour of their time to donate blood. She wouldn’t survive otherwise. People may think that it’s hard to give blood, but it would be even harder for us if they didn’t.”