Unfortunately, just about everyone in society has probably witnessed a family member, friend, neighbor, or at least an acquaintance that has been diagnosed with some form of cancer.
Recently, a local school had to watch a member of their staff suffer with a form of this horrible disease.
In March 2006, Kay Patton, the cafeteria cook at St. Matthew School in Tyrone, was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.
Kay and her husband John have three children, Robert, Jonathan, and Alisha, who all attended St. Matthew School and Tyrone Area High School.
Part of Kay’s treatment includes receiving transfusions of red blood cells and platelets at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh.
Kay’s family would like to thank everyone for their support while she was getting well.
In honor of Kay, the Catholic Daughters of America are sponsoring a replenishment blood drive on Friday, June 29 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Matthew’s Harkins Hall (behind St. Matthew School). This will benefit the Central Blood Bank.
Kay’s friends and family are asking the community to please donate blood to help replenish the blood that Kay and patients like her have needed for their treatments.
The Central Blood Bank supplies more than 40 hospitals in western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia. This includes West Penn Hospital, where Kay is receiving treatment.
To schedule an appointment to donate blood this Friday or if you have any questions, please call Kathy Narehood at 684-4687 or Anita Sprankle at 684-3803.
For more information on the Central Blood Bank, you may call 1-866-DONORS-1 and www.centralbloodbank.org.
