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Jacob's 'Live Like a Penguin Blood Drive'

The family of Jacob Thompson, a 9-year-old boy who lost his battle with cancer last November, teamed up with the Red Cross to give back.

PORTLAND (NEWS CENTER Maine) — The family of a 9-year-old Maine boy who stole hearts around the world when he asked for Halloween and Christmas cards is helping to save lives in their son’s name.

Jacob Thompson waged a four-year battle against neuroblastoma. During his treatment, he received more than a hundred blood and platelet transfusions.

Jacob, who loved penguins and police, died Nov. 21, but his family vows to keep his spirit alive. And Tuesday in Portland, they teamed up with the American Red Cross and held their first "Live Like a Penguin Blood Drive."

"For an hour of your time, you are giving a patient the ability to feel better, have more time with their family, make it through treatment. Jacob never would have made it through his treatments without transfusions,” Jacob’s stepmother Tara Artinyan explained from a large gathering room inside the Clarion in Portland.

The hotel donated the space for the Red Cross-backed and -run blood drive. Artinyan says she and Jacob’s father, Roger Guay are convinced transfusions helped to extend the 9-year-old’s life.

"I’m O-negative, so I’m the universal donor, so I’m giving two pints today," said Nina Houghton Brown, who showed up to the blood drive wearing a penguin t-shirt to honoring Jacob.

"My husband passed away of colon cancer seven years ago and these guys live two doors down on my street," she said. "We all want to help and nobody really knows what to do, so giving blood is absolutely the least I can do.”

The blood drive, dreamed up shortly after Jacob died, is truly a way for his family to give back. In his short life, he received more than a hundred blood and platelet transfusions.

"It’s a good thing to do for everybody and it’s good for everybody that needs it," said Joe Wallace, a passionate donor. He’s been giving his A-positive blood and platelets for more than 40 years. Jacob’s story drew him in.

"The need is great. It’s one of the easiest things you can do to help someone else, to help multiple people," Wallace said. He backs that up by sharing his record of five minutes to fill a medical donor back with his crimson, red blood.

To date he's donated so much blood, it would fill more than ten milk gallon jugs. Twenty years ago, at five gallons, he was awarded the Red Cross "Hero Pin." "I just like to do it," he said, smiling.

His enthusiasm is greatly appreciated by the American Red Cross, particularly during tough years, like 2018. “In January alone we lost 550 blood drives in the country due to the weather,” he said.

Coupled with the flu outbreak, there is an enormous blood deficit everywhere.

"The red cells are used for trauma, and they’re the first thing the hospitals ask for when they place an order,” said American Red Cross account manager Eddie Scott.

Scott helps to fill those orders by lining up blood drives. He sees first-hand the needs blood donations fill. "And whole blood is the workhorse. Whole blood is used for so many different things. I mean, every single type of blood donation is crucial right now. I mean, we never have too much. Never."

Jacob Thompson relied on those donations — for four years.

Lying on a table as he prepares to donate, his dad Roger Guay shares a tender moment: "I just miss him so much and I’m so glad that people are coming out honoring Jacob by giving blood."

And for the first time in his life, Roger Guay rolled up his sleeve and donated a pint, alongside friends and strangers.

"There are a lot of people we’ve never seen before; you know, we see their name on the list and we’re like 'cool, we don’t know who you are but we’ll get to meet you and say thank you,'" he said. "And thank you for giving the gift of life."

As Tara and Roger make their way through the makeshift hospital space, Roger reaches out to Nina Houghton Brown. The two join in a big hug, all the thank yous a donor could ask for.

Nearly 7,000 units of platelets and 10,000 units of plasma are needed daily in the U.S.

Jacob’s family is hoping the Live Like a Penguin Blood Drive will continue beyond the 40 pints of blood collected Tuesday in Maine, and that anyone inspired by Jacob’s story will consider donating blood or platelets.

» Go to redcross.org/local/maine to get information on donating locally

» Find a doctor center near you, anywhere in the U.S., at redcross.org/give-blood

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