LODI — The American Red Cross will join the family and friends of Amelia Heider to host a blood drive in her memory, on Friday, April 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Lodi Veterinary Care, 705 N. Main in Lodi. Appointments to donate are strongly encouraged.
Prior to her cancer diagnosis, Heider was a loyal Red Cross blood donor. After her health history assessment revealed Heider had low hemoglobin levels, preventing her from donating three months in a row, Heider sought the advice of her doctor.
In April 2022, she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. During Heider’s 600 days of treatment she received over 125 units of blood and platelets before she lost her battle with cancer in December 2023.
The Heider family are loyal blood donors and longtime residents of the Lodi community and they’re holding this blood drive in memory of Amelia.
“This drive is a small way we can give back,” said Maureen Heider, Amelia’s mother. “The Red Cross means so much to our family. Before Amelia’s diagnosis we all were regular donors but did not realize how much blood products were used for cancer treatment. By donating we now realize how many people benefit from an hour of our time.”
The Red Cross is proud to provide important health information as a part of the donation process. A private health assessment is performed on every individual who comes to give prior to their donation. Empowering our blood donors with meaningful health information is critical to maintaining donor person well-being as well as the broader care of our communities.
The American Red Cross urges donors to give blood or platelets now to continue to strengthen the national blood supply this month. People of all blood types — especially those with type O blood — are critical to ensuring hospitals can meet the daily demand for lifesaving transfusions.
April is National Volunteer Month. The Red Cross depends on the generosity of volunteers to ensure blood products are available when patients need them. Red Cross blood drives and donation centers also depend on incredible volunteers every single day.
In thanks for lending an arm this month, all who come to give April 8-28 will receive a $10 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. They will also automatically be entered for a chance to win one of two $7,000 gift cards. Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Spring.