Charon Simmons
On Sept. 1, 2011, Charon suffered a sickle cell crisis and twice went into cardiac arrest. He suffered simultaneous multiple organ failure; at one point doctors gave him a 10 percent chance of survival.
Following are just a few of those who partly owe their lives to your generosity, your kind heart, your goodness in coming forward to anonymously give the greatest of gifts to someone you’ll likely never know or meet.
These recipients of your gifts simply want to say “thank you.”
On Sept. 1, 2011, Charon suffered a sickle cell crisis and twice went into cardiac arrest. He suffered simultaneous multiple organ failure; at one point doctors gave him a 10 percent chance of survival.
In February 2013, Deputy Collins was shot down as he and fellow officers closed in on an armed murder suspect in the mountains of San Bernardino County. During his recover, Deputy Collins required extensive care for facial, arm and leg wounds. Even after surviving the initial trauma, Deputy Collins needed two dozen follow-up surgeries.
Cassey Cinqmars Fisher and daughter Allie are living the reality of blood donation. Young Allie, was diagnosed with aplastic anemia at 5 years of age. Now an adolescent, Allie’s weakened immune system continues to be a part of her daily life. Blood transfusions, available only through the generosity of volunteer donors, are the prescription for care.
In 1994, Capt. Pete Lawson of the San Bernardino County Fire Department suffered serious burns while battling a bottomland fire. “I’ll do whatever I can to promote blood donation and LifeStream,” he says.
Shortly after birth, Alex’s immediate future was in doubt. Something was wrong. Alex’s heart wasn’t working properly. At just 3 months of age, he required heart surgery. Over the next several weeks, little Alex required three more surgeries.
Alone, fearful and in pain, pinned inside her vehicle that was lodged in a ditch, Michelle Arguelles silently prayed that fate would soon take a kinder turn.
Hannah Grinnan had two strikes against her at birth. Born with a defective heart, doctors knew the infant would require a heart transplant – and minutes, days counted.
“Baby Paisley” won the hearts of a community as her own was failing. At just 5 months, Rick and Charity Arnold’s tiny firstborn received a heart transplant.
Julie Paez lay conscious but silent on the floor, in pain and unable to get up. The date: December 2, 2015. The location: Inland Regional Center, San Bernardino.
Ten-year-old Adrian Grajeda, struck by debris when a car crashed through the school fence as he played at recess, needed blood, and a lot of it, as he was rushed to the hospital.