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For Immediate Release
Redwood City’s Fire Department Blood
Drive
Redwood City, CA - July 21, 2005 –
“Not my little girl. She’s all I have. I would
give anything for this to have happened to me instead of
my
daughter.” – Grieving mother, Christine Marelich.
Captain Ernie Gomez from the Redwood City Fire Department
was shocked to learn about Brittany Marelich-Hill from an
article by Nicole Neroulias, Redwood City, Staff Writer for
the Inside Bay Area. He then spoke to Brittany’s mother
who is asking the community for help. At 14 years of age,
Brittany Marelich-Hill is facing decisions no one should ever
have to face: Should she shave her head before all her hair
falls out in the hope that what hair she now has might be
just enough to cut and fashion into a wig? Last Sunday she
decided; yes. Should she find a new home for her beloved cats
because she can no longer give them the care and attention
they need? Yes; Brittany wanted to make sure her cats were
happy, properly cared for and had a good home even though
she was sad to part with them.
Before February 4th of this year, Brittany was a typical
ninth-grader at San Carlos High School. With her diagnosis
of acute myelogenous leukemia in February, her life changed
in a way that makes Brittany’s mother, Christine Marelich,
wish she could take her daughter’s place.
Christine is desperate to save her daughter Brittany’s
life and the only hope is through blood and bone marrow donations.
Brittany is multi-racial and has a special need for a particular
bone marrow match. “Every day counts!” Christine
cried to the staff at the Fair Oaks Library in Redwood City
as she circulated flyers to alert the public to Brittany’s
desperate search for viable donors. After each long day of
her search for donors, Christine returns to Lucile Packard
Children’s Hospital to sleep next to her daughter Christine
hoping a donor will be found.
The Redwood City Fire Department is sponsoring a blood drive,
in honor of Brittany Marelich-Hill, on Tuesday, August 2,
2005 from 9:00am – 2:00pm. It will be at the Bloodmobile
at 1017 Middlefield Road in front of City Hall. The Stanford
Blood Center is in desperate need of B-negative blood, which
is needed to help keep Brittany alive. This blood type is
found in only 1.5 percent of the population.
Please help to make a difference in Brittany’s life
or the life of another child who needs blood and call (650)
780-7400 to schedule an appointment to donate blood.
Visit Redwood City’s award-winning website at www.redwoodcity.org for information about the City and its services, the community,
recreation programs, education, and City government.
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Contact:
Captain Ernesto Gomez
Redwood City Fire Department
(650) 780-7400
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