Jacksonville News

Photo by Member Mark Krancer, Kram Kran Photo

Photo by Member Mark Krancer, Kram Kran Photo

ARTICLE

Date ArticleType
1/15/2025 5:00:00 AM Member News

LifeSouth Community Blood Centers and HCA Orange Park Hospital to Host Fourth Annual Birthday Blood Drive for Eliyanah on January 13

Blood drive will honor the nurses and doctors that kept Eliyanah and her mother alive


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – January 10, 2025 – LifeSouth Community Blood Centers today announced it will host a blood drive with HCA Orange Park Hospital on Monday, January 13. The blood drive will be open to the community from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on LifeSouth’s signature red, white and blue bloodmobile, which will be parked at the medical center, located at 2001 Kingsley Ave. in Orange Park.

 

This blood drive will celebrate the fifth birthday of Eliyanah Brusoe — a special little girl who overcame life-threatening health complications when she arrived 12 weeks early in January 2020. Her mother, Melissa, required more than 30 pints of blood during the birth. 

 

Eliyanah spent her first 49 days of life in HCA Orange Park Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit. Today, she is a happy and healthy little girl. To celebrate Eliyanah’s birthday, Melissa is asking the Jacksonville, Florida, community to give blood — a gift that will honor the nurses, doctors, and blood donors who helped them both survive.

 

“Five years ago, my life was saved because of people I’ll never meet — blood donors who selflessly gave so others could live. On that day, I received 33 units of blood. Without those donations, I wouldn’t be here today,” said Melissa Brusoe, Eliyanah’s mother. “Every year since then, we’ve held this blood drive in partnership with HCA Orange Park and LifeSouth Community Blood Centers as a way to give back. This year is extra special as we’re celebrating our Sweet Pea’s fifth birthday — a milestone I wouldn’t have had the chance to witness if it weren’t for those who donated blood. Today, Eliyanah continues to grow as a beautiful, sweet, happy and strong little girl and we could not be more proud of her.”

 

“Local nurses and doctors are in a constant need for blood and rely heavily on donors in our community every single day to ensure that LifeSouth can provide an adequate supply to serve their patients,” said Brite Whitaker, Director of Communications and Outreach at LifeSouth Community Blood Centers. “With it being National Blood Donor Month in particular, it couldn’t be an even better time to donate and help to save a life as it undoubtedly makes a difference, just as it did for patients like Eliyanah and Melissa.”
 

Currently, all blood types are needed, especially type O-negative donors. There is no substitute for human blood; every day, hospitals like HCA Orange Park rely on blood that is given by healthy individuals. 

 

To learn more about the donation process, call LifeSouth’s toll-free number, 1-888-795-2707 or make an appointment at www.lifesouth.org

 

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About LifeSouth Community Blood Centers:

LifeSouth is a non-profit community blood bank serving more than 150 hospitals in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. LifeSouth is committed to meeting the blood supply needs of hospitals and their patients by providing the highest quality blood components and services. The LifeSouth team is dedicated to making sure the blood is there when a patient is in need. To learn more, visit LifeSouth.org. For more resources and information about blood donation, visit donatingblood.org