Amanda Aldrich, an 8th grade student in Simsbury, is active in youth ministry, and loves her family and friends, sports, and just being a teen. Amanda also has an extremely rare autoimmune disease, CIDP (chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy). Basically, her immune system attacks her nerves, which makes her legs and arms week and tingling if not treated.

In order to treat this condition, Amanda receives an infusion of healthy human antibodies (derived from blood plasma) every 6 weeks, which helps to flush/dilute her, so that she does not feel the weakness. The Red Cross continues to hold blood drives and is in need of donations more than ever and are making the process as safe as possible for people to donate. Not only will blood donations help with Amanda’s treatment, but the plasma from donors also helps to treat COVID 19 patients, which further increases the need for donations. Please consider attending a local blood drive, if you feel comfortable doing so in honor of Amanda.

Monday, April 13, 2020
American Red Cross Farmington
Blood Donation Center
209 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06032
08:30 AM-6:00 PM

Tuesday, April 14, 2020
American Red Cross Farmington
Blood Donation Center
209 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06032
07:00 AM-6:00 PM

Wednesday, April 15, 2020
American Red Cross Farmington
Blood Donation Center
209 Farmington Ave, Farmington, CT 06032
07:30 AM-5:30 PM

Thursday, April 16, 2020
American Red Cross Farmington
Blood Donation Center
209 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06032
08:00 AM-5:30 PM
Farmington Platelet
Donation Center