Community Corner
Student With Cancer, 17, Needs Blood Donations To Fight Back
A Maine South High School junior is fighting a rare cancer; the school's principal is urging people to donate blood and platelets.
Maine South High School's principal, Shawn Messmer, sent out an email message to the school community asking people to donate blood and blood platelets to a 17-year-old student who is fighting cancer.
Jimmy Rancich, a junior, was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer last summer and has been undergoing treatment for it ever since, the email said.
"Jimmy is entering a phase of the treatment procedures where blood donations are needed. There is an immediate need for blood platelet donations and an ongoing need for typical blood donations," Messmer wrote.
All blood types are able to be used.
If interested in donating, call 847-260-2707 to set up an appointment as soon as practically possible. You can book an appointment for a platelet donation, which takes 90 minutes, or a regular blood donation, which takes 30 minutes. You will be asked to whom you want to donate, and their birth date; it's James Joseph Rancich, born July, 17 1996.
You must be at least age 16 in order to donate, and 16- and 17-year-olds must have parental consent.
The nearest Lifesource locations at which to donate are:
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