the Welland Tribune; Saturday, April 21, 2012
By all counts, Deborah Power should not be alive today.
When she was diagnosed with acute myeloblastic leukemia at the age of 17, she was told she only had days to live. That was in 1971.
Refusing to let the disease win the war, Power fought through years of sickness to become the successful business woman she is today.
But she had a secret weapon — blood.
During her many years of treatment, including eight living at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, Power received thousands of units of blood, donated by generous strangers willing to roll up their sleeves.
It was those donations that helped to save her life.
Power, now 58, shared her story of survival with a group of about 180 Grade 11 and 12 students at Jean Vanier secondary school on Friday, hoping to encourage the teens to give the gift of life. …
Grade 12 student Quinton Haist took the first slot of the day, eager to roll up his sleeve.
“It’s exciting to know you have the chance to save some-one’s life,” he said shortly after handing in his registration information.
Not only has Haist signed up as a blood donor, earlier this year he also became a registered organ donor.
Giving back hit the teen’s radar hard after his cousin was killed in a car crash.
“He was an organ donor and saved six lives,” Haist said.
Though his cousin’s death was certainly tragic, it helped knowing he was able to change the lives of others, he added.
Click here for the online story.