When she was only four-and-half-years-old, Claire Robinson (17) was diagnosed with Acute Myeloblastic Leukaemia (AML).
Her story is one of the many that prove that donating blood really saves lives.
The Benoni High School learner thanked blood donors at the South African National Blood Service dinner, at the Benoni Country Club, on June 21.
“Without your help in aiding the donations of blood and platelet transfusions I would not be here today,” said the emotional Claire.
In 2001, she started with nose bleeds and bruises, sever pains in her head and very high temperatures.
Following numerous tests, the doctors eventually established that she had AML.
“After being diagnosed, I had 21 red blood and 13 platelet transfusions in the first year,” said Claire.
She is aware that many blood donors never get to hear or see what happens to their blood donations.
“Your work helps to save lives; I received numerous red cell and platelet transfusions and I have now gone from daily, weekly and monthly check ups to yearly ones, which is fantastic,” she said.
“Although I was diagnosed at young age and a lot of the procedures are thankfully long forgotten, the experience of having cancer and surviving cancer has left me with a passion to share my story and give hope that, if detected early, with the help of caregivers and doctors, and with the very important help of blood donors, such diseases can be treated and remission is possible.”
When Claire reached her five-year remission goal, she asked her parents to help to come up with something they could sell to raise money for the Childhood Cancer Foundation (CHOC).
“We decided that I had once received chemotherapy on Christmas day and we would, thus, include Christmas in our yearly fundraiser, so we came up with a Tin of Hope,” she said.
This is their ninth sale of Tins of Hope, which consist of a tin, with a Christmas ball inside, with the wording HOPE on the ball.
They sell for R20 each.
Claire is also a member of Survivors of Life Threatening Illnesses and Diseases, a volunteer group run by survivors of childhood cancer.
“Millions of people, myself included, owe their lives to people like you; people who encourage others to become blood donors, people they will never meet — people who donate blood because they understand — it’s not about me, its about them,” she told SANBS clinic controllers.
“Thank you for demonstrating such a genuine commitment to our community and helping our blood centre assure a safe and adequate blood supply, and remembering that blood that is used today must be replaced today,” she said.
She told the volunteers to shine their light and to continue to be stars in their own right.
Those interested in obtaining Tins of Hope can send an email to clairestinofhope@gmail.com.
