donating blood

Sara Zeledon Hernandez is an 8 year old girl in our Child Sponsorship program who was diagnosed with aplastic anemia 13 months ago.  Aplastic anemia is a condition where the bone marrow doesn’t produce enough blood cells – WBCs, RBCs, and platelets.  Every 8 days, she gets her blood counts checked and receives a blood transfusion if the numbers are below normal.  Today, 5 Manna program directors and 1 community member, Karen Bustos, donated blood at the Nicaraguan Red Cross in Sara’s name to ensure she receives the blood she needs! 

Sara

Donating blood in Nicaragua was exactly the same as in the US.  I learned that Nicaragua has one of the greatest donor rates in the entire world!

500cc later... I've ensured Sara will receive blood :)

Katie and Matt finishing up and about to relax with some pear juice.

Amanda mid-stick.

When Karen learned she was a universal donor, she got extremely excited and asked how often she was able to donate.  The sense of community and desire to help others in this country is amazing.