HILLSBORO, Ore. — A young girl diagnosed with a rare form of anemia survived thanks to blood donations. On Thursday, the American Red Cross held a special blood drive in her honor at the Hidden Creek Community Center in Hillsboro.
The special drive was to honor 5-year-old Emmi Bradley, who was diagnosed with aplastic anemia — a rare disease in which the bone marrow doesn't produce enough new blood cells.
"It totally uprooted our whole life," said Stephanie Bradley, Emmi’s mom.
Bradley says she started noticing unusual bruising on her daughter’s arms and legs at age three, later spreading to her face. So, she decided to take her to her pediatrician and that’s when she was told it was aplastic anemia.
“Basically, her treatment was exactly like that of child who has leukemia,” said Bradley.
Emmi spent the next year surviving off of donated blood and received 40 life-saving blood and platelet transfusions.
"She was a fighter,” said Bradley. “She was strong and went every day like it was any other day — while everyone on the outside could see what she was going through."
Since May 12, 2023, Emmi spent 72 nights in the hospital and had 17 anesthesia procedures. But mom says her spunky and outgoing personality made the unimaginable journey more bearable.
But unfortunately, she's not alone.
"There's always a constant need every 2 seconds in the United States, someone needs blood," said Isabela Anderson with the American Red Cross.
Anderson says the Red Cross sees blood donations start to drop during the holidays as people travel and stay busy — but she emphasized that the urgent need is still there.
"Her [Emmi’s] story is heartbreaking, but it's also an example of what many children and people go through in the United States,” said Anderson. “So, she's just one girl, and she had 40 blood and platelet transfusions — that's just one person! Can you imagine how many other people there are just like Emmi?"
Now Emmi and her family are advocating for more donations to help families like theirs.
"I know to you, it's just a day where you go and spend an hour out of your day to donate your blood — but you don't realize how big of an impact you're making,” said Bradley. “She is one of so many people that need you to donate."
Bradley tells KGW Emmi is still going through treatments but is doing well. If you'd like to donate blood, you can go to RedCrossBlood.org.