The VOCM Summer Blood Drive is on today at Canadian Blood Services on Wicklow Street in St. John’s, aiming to boost the province’s blood supply as the summer need increases.

This need became very real for one local family in February 2018, when four-year-old Aaron Parsons was diagnosed with Lymphoma and required numerous blood transfusions.

Aaron’s mother, Kim MacPherson, says Aaron developed a cold while visiting his grandparents in Placentia that winter. They took him to the medical clinic where he stopped breathing. All this during a snowstorm.

He was med-evaced to St. john’s, where he was diagnosed.

Aaron has since required blood transfusions as part of his treatment regimen.

Mom Kim had no idea at the time of just what the blood supply collection and distribution system entailed, but she certainly does now. She says they never had an issue with availability of blood products.

The clinic is on until 2:00 today, and donors are welcome to drop in tomorrow and Canada Day.