A special blood drive has been scheduled in Tyrone for Wednesday, May 31 to help replenish blood that has been used and will continue to be used by an 18-year-old Amish boy from the area.
Jonathan “Yonni” Renno was diagnosed with a form of Leukemia in early April. Since then he has received chemotherapy treatments and blood transfusions at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh.
The blood drive being held in Tyrone will replenish the blood “Yonni” has used and will continue to use throughout his treatment. Information from blood drive organizers said “Yonni” may also be a candidate for a bone marrow (stem cell) transplant in the future.
Anyone donating blood at the drive may elect to become a part of the National Marrow Donor Program (at no charge) by completing additional paperwork and having an extra sample of blood drawn.
Pittsburgh-based Central Blood Bank, a non-profit organization that supplies blood and blood products to 40 hospitals in western Pennsylvania including West Penn Hospital, is coordinating the effort. The Central Blood Bank is also a member of the National Marrow Donor Program.
Marcy Braunstein, manager of the blood bank’s Replenish the Need program said, “When a patient is using a lot of blood, they or their family are contacted by the hospital to see if they want to make an effort to replace the blood.
“They (the hospital) approached the family and asked if they wanted to replace (the blood) and they thought it was a good idea,” said Braunstein. “They called Central Blood Bank in.”
Braunstein said she met Jonathan, his mother, father and other family members. She noted the teen is the oldest of nine children.
“They put me in touch with Judy Duey, who is a friend of theirs, and we started to plan the blood drive,” said Braunstein.
Churches, the Amish community, the Tyrone Area Chamber of Commerce and businesses were contacted to promote the blood drive.
“It sounds like there is a real interest in people donating to try and replenish blood he’s used,” said Braunstein.
“We do not normally come out to the eastern part of the state,” said Braunstein. “However, we do find there are a lot of patients that do come from those areas and they come to Pittsburgh for their health care and they’re using blood and other treatments here.”
Braunstein said the idea was to have the people in the community where “Yonni” is from respond to replenish the blood. She said the Replenish the Need program was established in the last year.
“It’s successful because we are able to put a face on the patient,” said Braunstein. “We ask all the time for people to donate blood for patients in hospitals. When they actually know of a specific case, the excuses they previously had (aren’t there).”
The blood drive for Jonathan “Yonni” Renno will be held on Wednesday, May 31 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 24 W. 10th St. (the empty storefront next to Gardner’s Candies) in downtown Tyrone. There will also be a bake sale and fresh produce available.
Those donating blood must bring proper identification. A Central Blood Bank or military ID, driver’s license, employee badge with photo and full name are all approved forms of identification. A birth certificate along with a picture ID that includes the donor’s full name will also be accepted.
To schedule an appointment for the blood drive contact Judy Duey at 684-2076. For more information about the Central Blood Bank call 1-866-DONORS-1 or go online at www.centralbloodbank.org.
