In the Back Mountain area of Pennsylvania, near Wilkes-Barre, she’s known in the community simply as “Ms. Lori.” Lori Russell ran a childcare center there for 20 years and owned her own childcare business for the last 16 years. She raised children who grew up and brought their own families to the center to be cared for by Ms. Lori.
Since September, Russell has been fighting Acute Myeloid Leukemia, which is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood. It progresses rapidly without treatment.
“The doctor told us, had she not received treatment within weeks, she would not have survived," Nikki Wilkes, Russell’s daughter, said.
Now, Russell and her family are hosting a Red Cross blood drive in her honor, the day after she was scheduled to receive a bone marrow transplant.
When Russell was in the hospital, she had difficulty retaining platelets, but the hospital’s supply was so scarce that doctors did not give her transfusions unless her count was extremely low. In addition, some of the blood transfusions she received were not an exact match because of supply issues.
“It became very apparent how dire the blood and platelet supply situation is,” her daughter said. “To think that doctors have to choose between which patients receive blood and platelets is devastating.”
It was Russell’s idea for their family to host a blood drive to address the need. This is the first time that anybody in her community will learn that she has cancer.
“In true fashion of our family, we take on the cause like it’s our own,” her daughter said. “We take a really lousy situation — no matter what it is — and just give back. That’s how she raised us.”
Russell’s mantra is, “It takes a village,” and now she is looking to her local community to step up and make a difference in the national blood supply crisis.
It was Russell’s idea for their family to host a blood drive to address the need. This is the first time that anybody in her community will learn that she has cancer.
“In true fashion of our family, we take on the cause like it’s our own,” her daughter said. “We take a really lousy situation — no matter what it is — and just give back. That’s how she raised us.”
Russell’s mantra is, “It takes a village,” and now she is looking to her local community to step up and make a difference in the national blood supply crisis.
“I think we sometimes forget there are ways to give back to the community that have absolutely nothing to do with money and financial situations. You don’t have to be financially privileged to donate blood,” Wilkes said. “You can do this for free, and this can literally save someone in your family or a complete stranger. How can you top that?”
Wilkes said, before experiencing her mother’s medical situation, she did not realize cancer patients would be recipients of donated blood and platelets.
“You shouldn’t wait until something happens to make a positive impact. I'm guilty of that. And here we are — hoping to make things better,” Wilkes said.
Generous community members have filled all the appointments for this specific blood drive in honor of Lori Russell. You can schedule your blood or platelet donation at any of our other drives by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.
Wilkes said, before experiencing her mother’s medical situation, she did not realize cancer patients would be recipients of donated blood and platelets.
“You shouldn’t wait until something happens to make a positive impact. I'm guilty of that. And here we are — hoping to make things better,” Wilkes said.
Generous community members have filled all the appointments for this specific blood drive in honor of Lori Russell. You can schedule your blood or platelet donation at any of our other drives by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.
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