Blood Donors Help 4-Year-Old Battle Leukemia

By Jacqueline Sit, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- One blood donation can save up to three peoples' lives, and Sunday blood donors from across the state met with those whose lives they've helped save.

Abby Riggs

Hundreds of people came out to the 'Blood Thanks & Giving Day' and 4-year-old Abby Riggs, who is battling leukemia, was one of them who received life saving blood from 44 donors.

She had the chance to meet some of her donors for the very first time at the Oklahoma Blood Institute's celebration.

"When you have your own child and your own family becomes affected by it, the need becomes much more real to you...and then you realize just how important it is to give blood as much as you can because you never know whose lives you're going to touch," said Brent Riggs, Abby's father.

In Oklahoma, less than five percent of the public gives blood, and Abby is living proof the donations save lives.

"With Abby and her situation every transfusion is a life or death thing. She has to have it or she wouldn't survive," Brent Briggs said.

When these donors met the bright eyed girl for the very first time, they were overjoyed.

"My heart just melted," said Jaclyn Mizell, a blood donor since 1989. "I was just so happy and tearful that I've helped."

"It's such a gratifying feeling to know especially 'cause I have a 4-year-old myself. Just to know we helped her and see her running around today is amazing," said Bill Dycus, who's been a blood donor for more than 20 years.

Abby is still fighting cancer and has many years of chemotherapy ahead of her. But it's because of blood donations that she can keep fighting.

You can make a difference and donate blood, just log on to the Oklahoma Blood Institute's Web site or call 877-340-8777.