Meet Zoiey: How blood donors saved her life

United Blood Services also known as Vitalant has helped save millions of lives, and they are stressing the importance of donating blood during the holidays.

Zoiey Gaines was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at the age of four and had to fight for her life.

Zoiey’s father, Eric Gaines, still remembers the day they had to face this truth.

“So that was probably the longest drive going the fastest I probably have ever driven. By this time she had probably already had, I think she had already had three transfusions already, I know they had given her a couple at YRMC and they were still giving her blood when I got up to Phoenix,” said Eric Gaines.

Blood donors are an essential part of survival when it comes to a situation like this, and you are always encouraged to donate. There is a specific need for O negative blood, since it’s universal qualities can help during any kind of emergency,

“It’s you know, it’s a Godsend, not every child is going to make it but thanks to the blood that we got, ours did. So she’s definitely a beacon, if it weren’t for people going out and just doing it, there’s no telling where she could be now,” said Gaines.

To learn how to donate click here.