In July 2000, eleven-year-old Katherine Toce was diagnosed with spinal cord glioblastoma, a rare form of cancer that usually presents in the brain and affects older adults.

Katherine underwent two major surgeries, four cycles of chemotherapy and radiation. She also needed numerous blood transfusions, including red blood cells as well as platelets.

At one point during Katherine's treatment, her mom had to drive to the hospital blood bank at Yale/New Haven Hospital to get four units of platelets for Katherine's doctor to transfuse at his office in Guilford, Connecticut. When she arrived at the blood bank she was told she could only have three units as there were not enough Group A platelets. Although it was hard to imagine there would ever be a shortage, this meant Katherine would have to go back the next day and try again.

According to Katherine's aunt Amy O'Donoghue, "Until I lived through Katherine's horrible disease, I had absolutely no idea the amount of blood products used by cancer patients. Even though Katherine lost her battle eight months after it began, our family remains committed to the Red Cross. After our experience with the blood shortage, my nephew (Katherine's brother) decided to hold a blood drive in Katherine's honor as his community service project for his Eagle Scout award. Over 200 people donated blood that day. Our family now holds two blood drives a year in Katherine's home town of Cheshire, Connecticut. In the three years since her death, almost 1000 units of blood have been collected in her memory. It is so comforting to know how many people have benefitted from the blood donated in her name."

Red Cross blood donors help patients like Katherine in cities and towns throughout New England and across the United States. Please….give blood. Together, we can save a life.

Patient Stories