This is National Blood Donor Week but for Carrie and Hunter Kuzik, every week is blood donor week. There isn't a day that goes by when they don't think about where the seven-year-old boy's next transfusion will come from.
Since he was an infant, Kuzik has had a rare condition called diamond blackfan anemia. His bone marrow doesn't produce red blood cells, requiring him to get transfusions of fresh blood every three weeks. He's had more than 117 so far, along with nine surgeries and nightly chelation therapy to help deal with the excess of iron in his blood.
For four years they have frequently visited blood clinics to thank the donors and show them how important their gifts are just by seeing Kuzik's face. There is also Hunter's Fight for a Cure, a non-profit organization that also works to build awareness of the need for more blood donors. Carrie is also a blood donor.
These acts haven't gone unnoticed by Canadian Blood Services (CBS), which is why the Kuziks were recently awarded with the Honouring Our Lifeblood Award in the recipient category, the only such award given out across the country this year.
"Can you believe it?" Carrie said. "I was kind of flabbergasted by it all. I was a bit humbled by it."
She was given the good news a few months after she gave a speech at last year's awards ceremony. She will travel with Kuzik to Ottawa in September to accept the award.
Candace Korchinsky, the local communications representative with CBS, explained what the pair does is vital to keeping the national blood system circulating, so to speak.
"Carrie and Hunter are two wonderful advocates of Canadian Blood Services," she said, talking about the importance of recruiting new donors and encouraging regular donations every eight weeks.
"It's big news," she said. "It's our way of thanking them for all the work that they continue to do for us. It's so meaningful for CBS to be able to work with recipients to be able to tell their story."
The national blood agency consistently needs to collect more blood than the previous year. In 2010, more than 900,000 units were donated.
"We feel very privileged to be able to honour Hunter and Carrie with this award. They do a lot for Canadian Blood Services helping us raise awareness. They've gone above and beyond."
Rallying to save lives
National Blood Donor Week aims to raise awareness of the importance of blood, plasma, platelet and stem cell donations, especially during the challenging summer months when donation levels drop.
The next blood donor clinic in St. Albert takes place from 4:30 to 8 p.m. on Monday, June 27 in the Parish Hall at the St. Albert Catholic Church located at 7 St. Vital Ave. CBS is also trying to establish a new bi-monthly clinic at Sturgeon Valley Baptist Church located at 51 Woodlands Road. The first one will take place from 4:30 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 19.
For more information about blood donation to book your appointment to donate, call 1-888-2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283) or visit either www.blood.ca.
