Red Cross bloodmobile coming to AEDC in honor of Mark Kelly Olson Published March 12, 2013 By Raquel March AEDC/PA ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. -- The American Red Cross bloodmobile will be available at AEDC in honor of Mark Kelly Olson for blood donations March 25-29, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. About a year ago, Mark Kelly's life was simple. As a fourth grader at Liberty Elementary School, he stayed busy playing with friends, shooting hoops on the basketball court and having fun on the football field. But things began to change when he began vomiting and his coloring turned to a yellowish green color. Mark Kelly's mother, Rose noticed something was wrong and took him to their family physician. They ran a series of tests and sent Mark Kelly to Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. After another round of tests, on April 18, 2012 Mark Kelly was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Weeks later, doctors realized he was a very high risk patient with a poor survivability rate. Mark Kelly became part of a special study group for children who may face the same form of ALL. Since joining the group, he has had rare complications from the treatments, but continues to fight for his health. Thus far, Mark Kelly has needed close to 100 blood and platelet donations. "I never understood how important donating blood was until I saw it on the pole going into my son's body," said Rose Olson. The blood products Mark Kelly needs to survive would not be available to him if it weren't for blood donors. "Every time he gets blood or platelets, I say a prayer thanking God for the donor," Olson said. "It humbles us to be able to be a part of getting the word out there about the importance of blood donations." Mark Kelly is sharing his story to encourage blood donors to roll up their sleeves and help other children who are in the same battle. The bloodmobile is a mobile blood collection lab that will move to a different location each day while stationed at AEDC. Employees may donate at any of the five locations during work hours with approval of the supervisor. The dates and corresponding locations are: March 25 - the Engine Test Facility office building 877; March 26 - the Propulsion Wind Tunnel office building 740; March 27 - the Administration and Engineering building 100; March 28 - the Carroll building 1103; and March 29 - the Main Cafeteria building 452. Most healthy individuals who are at least 17 years of age and weigh a minimum of 110 pounds are eligible to donate blood. Individuals 18 years of age or younger must also meet specific height and weight requirements. The Tennessee Valley Blood Services Region serves nearly 60 hospitals and must have approximately 600 people donate blood or platelets each weekday to meet the needs of hospital patients. To donate blood at other locations see www.redcrossblood.org/make-donation. For more AEDC blood donation guidelines and information, contact Leslie Myers at 454-5387.