Talia C. • Oviedo, FL

I am thankful to blood donors because they kept me alive while I battled two rounds of cancer before my tenth birthday. I was only seven years old when the doctors first told me I had neuroblastoma. It was Valentine's Day and they immediately put me in the hospital and started chemotherapy. I had surgery to remove my tumor and needed massive doses of blood and platelets to keep me going.

When the doctors told me I was in remission I didn't like that word because I never wanted the cancer to come back so I told everyone I was cured. Unfortunately I was wrong. The cancer came back. This time I needed a stronger form of chemotherapy and even more blood and platelets. My mom says one day a nurse came into my room and said there was a shortage of platelets. That's when we both realized how important blood donors are to people like me that need the blood to feel better. I am now in remission once again. My hair has grown back and I can enjoy my favorite activities such as singing and dancing. I just hope the cancer never comes back.