BANGOR, Maine — Last year, the U.S. hit an all-time low in the country's supply of much-needed blood, and according to the American Red Cross, there was a 10% decline in blood donations, putting people who experienced unexpected emergencies at risk.
For 13-year-old Avery MacNair of Penobscot, being diagnosed with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) came as a surprise.
"I really like to ride dirt bikes, play video games, fish," Avery said, reminiscing on all the activities he enjoyed before he was diagnosed with the rare form of cancer in February 2023.
He used to spend his time ice fishing and playing sports, competing against other kids his age on baseball fields and basketball courts. Now, he depends on frequent transfusions of whole blood or platelets to help his immune system fight back.
His mother, Jamie MacNair, explained that her son's experience has been a testament to how life can quickly shift, taking unexpected and heartbreaking turns.
"I was one of those naive people who think, 'It's not going to be us. We won't need that,' and it's gut-wrenching when you find out your child has cancer," Jamie said. "And to realize that the blood products are what keeps them alive and what a need it is."
Jamie said the diagnosis has been hard for Avery and the whole family. She has had to put work to the side, getting people to help her run her shop that sits below her home.
Avery receives chemotherapy four times each week, and Jamie said the treatments make his body and his immune system weak. He needs constant blood transfusions to help his immune system recuperate after the chemo treatments and to help his blood cells keep fighting against the disease.
He has needed nearly 40 transfusions since last year, his mother said. Avery has neutropenia as well, which means he has low levels of white blood cells in his body.
With leukemia and cancer treatments both weakening his immune system, Avery's body has a hard time fighting off illness, and even catching a common cold could result in him getting pneumonia or severely ill, Jamie said.
To prevent illness, Avery spends all his time cooped up in his home, lounging in his favorite chair as his body works to get better over time.
"Walking up the stairs and just walking outside really sometimes. ... Even just getting up and going to the bathroom exhausts me," Avery said.
Currently, Avery's cancer treatments are intense, but soon he will go from receiving four treatments per week to just two, his mom said. Jamie said she looks forward to watching Avery get over the hump, seeing him receive lighter chemotherapy treatments, and getting him closer to remission. But even with his steady progress, he still experiences unexpected setbacks.
"Recently he was in the hospital for a week, and he received three blood products in five days," Jamie said. "Every day is pretty scary. Being a mom has really changed."
As Jamie watches her son face cancer head-on, she like many mothers, hopes for the best, relying on people she will never meet to continue to decide to donate blood.
"It's definitely a struggle to watch. ... To raise one child normal," Jamie said, explaining that her experience of being a mom to her oldest son, who is now 21, is much different than the current experiences she has while she puts her best foot forward to care for Avery. "Avery's childhood is not normal. He has had to face some really grown-up things, and it's unfair. And the lesson we've all learned is that life is just not fair."
Avery's diagnosis has come with tough lessons and an outlook you hardly ever see in someone so young.
"The reality of life is that nobody lives forever," Avery said. "In fact, no one lives forever."
But his battle with cancer has also taught him and his mother that there are people who are compassionate, loving, and selfless who are willing to help others in more ways than one.
Jamie said they partnered with the Red Cross to host a blood drive in Avery's name in January. So many people showed up to the blood drive that organizers had to turn some people away. Avery said when people come together and donate blood willingly, they can give others who are facing tough times more than just hope.
"Just that little needle poke or driving through a little bit of yucky weather could save someone's life," Avery said.
NEWS CENTER Maine will partner with the American Red Cross to host several blood drives in southern, central, and eastern Maine on Wednesday, March 27. To register to give blood, you can text the word "blood" to 828-6622 to receive a link with information on how to sign up and where to find a sponsored blood drive near you.
Anyone who wants to register online can click here.