
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 5, 1994                    TAG: 9406030249 
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER                     PAGE: 09    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: 940605                                 LENGTH: Medium

CHESAPEAKE GENERAL DEDICATES BLOOD DRIVE TO SICK TEENAGER

{LEAD} Chesapeake General Hospital will conduct a blood drive Thursday for its hospital employees and for Chesapeake residents because there's a need and because a Chesapeake teenager needs a heart transplant.

``We do these blood drives three times a year,'' said Kelly Leach, Chesapeake General's Human Resource Projects Assistant. ``We try to space these blood drives about three months apart and when the Red Cross can set us up.''

{REST} According to Paul Hodges, administrative director of donor resources for the American Red Cross' Mid-Atlantic Regional Blood Services, the area's blood supply is low and all eligible donors are urged to donate.

``We are heading into an historically low collection period,'' Hodges said in a recent Red Cross news release. ``We had the worst winter in Red Cross history, finding ourselves on an emergency appeal during January and part of February. Unfortunately, collections did not increase during April and May, so our inventory is very low right now.''

Hodges said the community's blood supply has been at a 3 1/2-day average since mid-March. The Red Cross tries to maintain a five-day supply.

In addition, Chesapeake General's blood drive is being dedicated to Tina Buck, a 15-year-old Indian River High School student who is at the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughter's awaiting a heart transplant.

Tina has been diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, specifically known as restrictive cardiomyopathy.

``Tina's aunt, Lisa Crutchfield, who works at a nearby nursing home, contacted the Red Cross about Tina,'' Leach said. ``The Red Cross, in turn, contacted us, and we are dedicating this drive for her in order to bring awareness to the need for blood donors and organ donors.''

As an incentive to get Chesapeake General Hospital employees to donate, each staff member who contributes will be given a $2.50 coupon for the hospital's dining room. The names of all employee donors also will be placed in a drawing for two tickets to Busch Gardens, Water Country USA, Ocean Breeze Festival Park or King's Dominion.

``But we also encourage the community to come out and donate blood,'' Leach said. ``This year's blood drive goal is either 55 donors or 55 pints of blood.''

During an August drive last year, goals were surpassed with a total of 74 donors and 65 pints donated, Leach said.

Leach said they hope to have the same success for Thursday's drive, not just to help increase the area's blood supply but for Tina, as well.

by CNB