Wellman and the surrounding communities are invited to take part in a Blood Drive for the Brave: Keylen’s Fight for Childhood Cancer Warriors organized in part by a 12-year old Mid-Prairie student who is undergoing chemo treatments. Keylen Cooper was diagnosed with leukemia and has been undergoing treatment recently, he shares what the blood drive means to him, “A total stranger saved my life and it was the best thing that pretty much happened to me.”

The active boy says what it was like to receive blood that had been donated, “I got blood and it saved my life. My hemoglobin was low and I was very sick, very. And when they gave me blood, the next day I felt way better. I could start running. I could start doing stuff I couldn’t do before.”

His mother Skyler Barthelman said what it was like as a mother, “Watching your child receive blood from a complete stranger is a feeling that is indescribable, especially in a moment in circumstances like we were in. We just can’t thank families enough for donating blood, platelets, taking the time out of their day to help save someone else, no matter the age. It was something that was very important to us.”

The Blood for the Brave: Keylen’s Fight for Childhood Cancer Warriors is this Saturday, August 9th, from 7:40 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Parkside Activities Center in Wellman. Walk-ins are welcome, but people are encouraged to sign up in advance if possible. Set up your time to donate blood at this link.

 

 

Photos provided by the family.