Santa Claus made a stop at the Canadian Blood Services in Red Deer this morning to thank donors and remind people to take the time to donate this holiday season.  

The event stood to remind people that with Christmas around the corner it can be a challenging time for Blood Services as donors are away or busy with family.  

Evonne Larratt whose son Liam was diagnosed with aplastic anemia in November of 2014, said by February Liam was in critical condition and was told he needed a bone marrow transplant which he received in June.  

Larratt said her son’s life was saved thanks to the donors who took the time to donate stem cells.

“Liam has had close to 300 blood transfusions, plus the stem cells. We’ve been the recipients for a lot of product and every time he needed something, I looked at those bags and thank whoever gave them because they saved his life. The people who go the extra step and do the stem cell donations, it’s a big commitment and you are saving people’s lives.”

Stem cell registration can be done through the National Registration Program known as One Match, or you can go into a clinic and do a swab at a self-serve station.

Trish Robichaud was also there with her daughter Brielle who was diagnosed with a benign tumor in her brain when she was three and that same day underwent six hours of surgery.

She says unfortunately they weren't able to remove the tumor and Brielle began chemotherapy in 2015 and finished just this past August. Right now they are waiting on the results of her MRI.

“Their gift is literally bringing her back, giving her energy back and those pretty little pink cheeks their colour. It’s literally saved her life, we can’t treat the tumor without transfusions, it’s absolutely necessary.”

There's a pop up Blood Donor Clinic in Lacombe this coming Monday, call 1-Triple-8-2-Donate to make an appointment.  

The Robichaud family, with blood recipient Brielle, her two brothers and mom Trish.