PLANTSVILLE, Conn. (WTNH) — It is a special blood drive in honor of a special girl.
Daniela Ciriello has a rare blood disease that requires frequent blood transfusions, so she celebrated her 13th birthday with a birthday blood drive at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville.
It’s how she’s been celebrating for years.
“Donating blood is a very important cause because you are saving many lives,” Daniela said. “You’re saving my life, and you’re letting me get to my next birthday blood drive.”
Daniela has beta thalassemia. Since she was a baby, her body has not made enough red blood cells. So, she needs a blood transfusion every three weeks. That’s why she and her family organize lots of blood drives.
“We need these blood donors to come it, because if they don’t donate blood, she does not live,” said an emotional Nicole Ciriello, Daniela’s mother. “That is the bottom line. No blood, no Daniela.”
Seven years ago, a group called Team Impact that connects chronically ill children with sports teams introduced Daniela to the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team. Since then, she has become the team’s “lucky charm.”
She’s gone to practices, tournaments, even the final four. The players stay in touch even after graduation.
“A few weeks ago, I went to see Paige (Bueckers) play against the Connecticut Sun, and some of them like my posts and comment on my posts,” Daniela said
Her birthday blood drive happens to come during a time of year when blood is in short supply.
“It’s time to travel, school’s out, our schedules are disrupted, and people might not be thinking about donating blood,” said Jocelyn Hillard, regional communications director for the American Red Cross. “However, the need for blood is constant.”
Now, there’s a new children’s book based on Daniela that encourages kids not to be afraid about going to the hospital. It also talks about her love of dancing, which she is only able to do as long as people keep donating blood.
“Please donate blood because it’s giving me my next opportunity to do something I love,” Daniela said. “It’s giving me my next dance competition, my next dance rehearsal, my next time to hand out with my friends.”
If you couldn’t make it to Daniela’s blood drive on Monday, but still want to help her and other people, you can get more information on blood donation on the Red Cross website.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
