Barbara Morse of NBC 10 News covered the annual NBC 10 Cares Community Blood Drive that honored the memory of Gianna Cirella who required 174 units of blood during her two-and-a-half-week battle with sepsis. The Gianna Cirella Memorial Fund was formed shortly after, which aimed to raise awareness about sepsis, and the incredible importance of blood donation. Gianna’s mom, Tara, is featured, as well as our RIBC division’s own, Caitlin Grimaldi-Flick. NBC 10 News anchor Dan Jaehnig takes us through the donation process and highlights the event. The story reads as follows:
“Every blood drive is crucial to ensuring blood is on the shelves when it’s needed. No one knows that more than the family of Gianna Cirella. NBC 10 Cares Community blood drive on Monday honored her memory. “She ended up needing 174 units of blood, plasma, platelets, all of that so it was an excessive, excessive amount,” said Tara Cirella, Gianna’s mom.
It was October of 2017 that the 16-year-old landed at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. “She went to the hospital with what we thought was a sore throat which then led to pneumonia,” recalled Cirella. Then sepsis, a nasty infection that took over her body. “Gianna survived for 17
days,” said Cirella. All those blood products buying the family time. The Gianna Cirella Memorial Fund was formed shortly after, not only raising awareness about sepsis, but the importance of giving this gift of life. “It became important to me that I tell people that you just might not realize how important it is until you’re there,” said Cirella, who is a regular donor.
“Every two seconds in America someone needs this lifesaving product,” said Caitlin Grimaldi-Flick, spokesperson at the Rhode Island Blood Center. Which is why, four times a year, NBC 10 partners with the Rhode Island Blood Center to hold drives like our Community Blood Drive. So many of you answering the call including our own, NBC 10’s Dan Jaehnig.
For those who may have a fear of needles?, “It’s easy, and you’re going to leave knowing that you’ve helped up to three people in our community, and you never know when that person is going to need it. It could someday be you,” said Grimaldi-Flick. The total for Monday was 257.”
View the full story and video here.