“Maverick is splashing into 6.”
EARLEVILLE, Md. – Blood Bank of Delmarva will hold the sixth annual In Honor of Maverick Blood Drive at Hacks Point Fire Company on Saturday, September 7, in celebration of Maverick Ford Painter’s sixth birthday.
“On September 3, Maverick is splashing into six, and, per tradition, we’ll celebrate his story of survival the following Saturday, September 7, with our annual blood drive,” said his mother, Shane Simmons. “He is a brother to big sister Hailey and little sister Mylah. He plays T-ball. He’s starting kindergarten. In other words, he’s doing normal things as a healthy little boy thanks to donors who stepped up six years ago and the doctors and nurses who treated him.”
Simmons added that people who take just an hour of their time to donate blood are doing something so profound – it’s hard to put into words.
“The truth is without blood donors we would not have our son with us today,” she added. “Maverick was born at 25 weeks along with his brother and sister and received eight transfusions through his NICU stay [at ChristianaCare and Nemours],” she added. “Because of donors, we got to take our son home. If he can’t encourage you, I don’t know what will.”
Maverick’s birthday will also be celebrated, in part, at Terumo’s quarterly blood drive on September 5 in Elkton, Md., where Maverick’s father, Jason Painter works. Terumo’s quarterly blood drives, run by Terumo Occupational Health Nurse Stephanie Eskridge, are outstanding company blood drives with strong employee participation.
The In Honor of Maverick Blood Drive on September 7 aims for similar success. Blood Bank of Delmarva Director, Donor Recruitment Joanna Arat and Account Manager Mary Moore hope to fill up all 81 appointments at the blood drive scheduled from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. on Saturday, September 7 at Hacks Point Fire Co.1185 Glebe Road, Earleville, MD 21919. So far, half the appointment slots have been filled.
Everyone who signs up to donate blood will receive a pool towel.
During the September 7 blood drive, Jason and Shane will accept donations for the Ronald McDonald House, which helped their family during their stay at Nemours Children’s Hospital.
To sign up for Maverick’s blood drive, book online or call 888-8-BLOOD-8 to sign up.