“Roll-up a Sleeve” for Bella at campus blood drive

Bella with her three favorite companions -- Precious, Fluffy and Max.

Nine-year-old Isabella Carabin-Lindgren
getting treatment for Ewing's Sarcoma

Local community urged to help
replenish blood supply for transfusions

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- Nine-year old Isabella “Bella” Carabin-Lindgren is the beneficiary of the Penn State New Kensington’s semiannual community Blood Drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday, April 1, in the campus Art Gallery in Upper Burrell.

Bella, a fourth-grader at Mary Queen of Apostles School in the nearby city of New Kensington, was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma when she was 10-months old. A stem cell transplant, chemotherapy and numerous blood transfusions arrested the disease, and she lived in remission for eight years. A year ago, during a routine exam, doctors found that the disease had returned.

Ewing's sarcoma is a primary bone cancer that affects mainly children and adolescents. According to WebMD.com, it's the second most common bone cancer in children, but it's also rare, accounting for only one percent of all childhood cancers. Although it can occur at any age, it seldom occurs in adults over the age of 30.

After surgery, Bella began chemotherapy, and the treatments have continued at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh. The campus blood drive helps replenish the supply used for Bella’s transfusions.

The spring blood drive will be the campus’ second for Bella. In the fall, 40 units of blood were donated by the campus community and the local community. In the past 10 years, the campus has supplied nearly 900 units of blood for use in the local area.

Bella attended the fall blood drive to show her appreciation to students, faculty, staff, alumni and the community for their blood donations that will help her ongoing treatments. She hugged the first campus donor, Kaitlin Bell, a second-year radiological sciences major.

“I want to thank you for donating blood to me and helping me to get better,” said Bella.

The Central Blood Bank will collect, store and deliver the blood. Donors of all blood types from the campus and the local community are encouraged to help increase the blood supply for the daughter of Meredith Carabin. A large turnout should shatter the campus donations record of 58, which was set in 2007.

Elaine Zarichnak, the campus nurse, is heading the community effort. She is encouraging novice donors to use Bella’s story as the impetus for donating. First-time donors are encouraged to “roll-up a sleeve” for Bella. Craig Synan, a senior criminal justice major, heeded Zarichnak’s last semester. The Allison Park native and Hampton High School graduate sat in the donating lounge chair for the first time in October.

“I had never given before, but this was for a great cause,” Synan said. “My father was fighting leukemia, so I know the importance of this simple act and how it could change or potentially save a life.”

The next campus blood drive is in October. Donors are eligible again in 56 days after giving, so the campus community doesn't have to wait until the spring drive to give blood.

Appointments are not necessary as walk-ins are welcome. A free cholesterol screening is available to each donor. The blood drive is made possible through the efforts of donors, canteen volunteers and Zarichnak.

For information about the blood drive, contact Zarichnak at 724-334-6066 or emz3@psu.edu

Penn State New Kensington students, faculty, staff and the community have a long history of donating blood to worthy causes.

About Bella
Bella has a positive and caring attitude that, along with her tough resolve, is an inspiration to her family. Bella has a wide variety of interests including dance, American Girl dolls and arts and crafts. She loves playing Xbox games and riding bikes with her friends. Bella is looking forward to lots of swimming this summer.

About Central Blood Bank
Central Blood Bank is the not-for-profit organization that supplies blood products and transfusion-related services to approximately 40 hospitals in western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia and eastern Ohio.