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Blood drive honors boy, raises awareness

BLUE EARTH — An American Red Cross blood drive will be held in honor of Ezra Kono to celebrate his 5th birthday and help raise awareness of the need for blood donations on Friday, Oct. 22, from noon to 6 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blue Earth.

Ezra was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a severe congenital heart defect which has left the left side of his heart underdeveloped.

“You have to go through at least three open-heart surgeries, staged throughout the first few years of your life to re-route the blood flow,” said Amanda Guthmiller, Ezra’s mother.

She said that her son was diagnosed with the condition prenatally.

“He’s gone through the first two but he’s also had three additional heart surgeries for other complications. He hasn’t yet done the last staged surgery yet. That’s one we’re waiting to do,” Guthmiller said.

Ezra just turned 5 on the 14th and has already been through a number of involved procedures and surgeries.

“He’s been through a lot in his little life,” Guthmiller said.

She said this is their third year putting on a blood drive in honor of Ezra’s birthday. She explained what sparked the idea.

“He’s received over 70 blood transfusions in his lifetime. We know how important blood donations are. Kids are sick and people are sick. We just wanted to give back for everything he’s been given,” Guthmiller said.

She shared that her son just started going to preschool several days a week.

“He’s really enjoying that and getting to be with the other kids,” she said.

Along with attending school, Guthmiller said Ezra is also in the process of learning how to walk and loves spending time outside.

Guthmiller acknowledged that there’s a blood shortage right now and said she felt it was important they give back.

She said they’ve seen a good turnout at past blood drives and are hoping this one is well-attended as well.

“It seems to be booking up pretty quick. We’re excited about that,” she said.

Sue Thesenga, regional communications manager for American Red Cross, said, “Right now we’re under what we call an emergency blood shortage.”

She said it’s been several years since there’s been this severe of a blood shortage. Thesenga said they’ve typically seen blood donations pick up this time of year after summer with school back in session and more people in a routine.

“This year it’s a little different. Our blood donor turnout has decreased by about 10 percent. Even though we’re seeing less turnout, the hospitals are still needing blood,” Thesenga said.

Thesenga said Ezra’s family is putting on this as a way to give back to other people and also to raise awareness for the ongoing need.

“I think a lot of times people think blood is needed after a car accident or for someone going through a surgery, but they don’t think about the patients like Ezra or a cancer patient who might need ongoing blood transfusions,” Thesenga said.

She said right now, with Covid still at large, they do prefer that people make appointments to donate blood, not just at this drive, but every drive, to allow for social distancing.

Appointments can be made at redcrossblood.org. People just put in their zip code and all the blood donations appointments nearby will come up. Thesenga said there’s a blood donor app that works the same way.

“Patients like Ezra are counting on us to be able to provide the blood they need. Can you imagine in an emergency being transported to the hospital and there’s no blood for you? Your outcome could be very different. We’re encouraging people to roll up a sleeve and donate. We really need it right now,” Thesenga said.

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