Donors give critical blood supply in memory of teenage cancer patient
Jerry Ballas was 18 years old when he passed away from a rare pediatric bone cancer.
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A blood drive was held today in memory of Jerry Ballas, a 18 year old who passed away in 2023 after a two-year battle with a rare pediatric bone cancer.
Jerry’s friends and family, who showed up to donate Sunday, say he was a loving and compassionate kid.
This is the third annual blood drive for Jerry, and they passed their previous record with more than 55 donations.
Jerry’s parents say he needed 70 blood transfusions throughout his treatment, and he was never denied.
“Knowing the blood is available is really what stuck with me. And it was very important to have that, to know that, for him,” said Jerry’s dad, Demetri Ballas.
Jerry’s mom, Tess Ballas added, “It gave us hope that he would have a better day. When he was very low in red blood cells, he had no energy. And once he got the transfusion, he was able to function that day.”
The New York Blood Center says this drive comes at a critical time.
There have been multiple blood emergencies over the summer after the blood supply reached its lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic.
