Family of Badly Burned Boy Pleads for Blood [Type O-, 100% burned]

Star Tribune ^ | 12.19.05 | Bob Von Sternberg

[wallcrawlr]

The family of a 5-year-old boy from Braham who was severely burned last week is pleading with the public for blood donations such as the ones that have been used to treat the boy.

Sky Williams remains in critical condition at Hennepin County Medical Center after he suffered third-degree burns over nearly 100 percent of his body.

"Sky's getting all the blood he needs, and the family's request came out of their hearts," said Dr. Elizabeth Perry, associate medical director of the Minneapolis-based Memorial Blood Center. "They just wanted to say help us."

Somewhat complicating the boy's case is that he has O-negative blood and can receive transfusions of only that type. No other blood type has such a limitation. About 7 percent of the U.S. population is O-negative.

During skin graft surgery performed Saturday, he received several blood products, Perry said.

He was burned late Thursday morning when his father briefly left him alone at home. A lit candle ignited his shirt.

Sky's great-grandmother, Billie Williams, told WCCO-TV: "He's fighting for his life, and he needs blood - a lot of it. There's going to be a lot of surgery down the road."

[wideminded]

About the best anyone could hope for is some other family's 5 year old with the same tissue and blood type dies, and they harvest his skin,

It is now possible to grow large sheets of skin on a culture medium in special containers from a small amount of ones own skin.

[sweetliberty]

"Too short to donate?"

Apparently. I used to be a lot thinner, too.

[nicmarlo]

I know they do that when they feel you're too small (thin)....that's what they told me once, too.

[wallcrawlr]

Thanks

[MarMema]

Third degree burns are painless.

[MarMema]

It's very sad, but highly unlikely he will survive...still with God all things are possible.

[OldBlondBabe]

"I thought O was the most common blood type?"

I believe "B" is the most common. O (especially O-) is most often requested because it is universal. It can be given successfully to those with all the other blood types: A, B, AB and O, both RH positive and negative can be given O-.

[null and void]

True, but it doesn't look much like skin, sweat glands and hair folicles tend to be missing. It's more like living plastic.

[MarMema]

O is the most common blood type. O positive, with roughly 40% of the population. Then comes A positive with something like 30% of the population. B is fairly rare.

I do a lot of blood banking...

[wallcrawlr]

BTTT

[hmiller]

I have not seen a response to where we can go and how we can get blood to Sky. Does anyone know the Mankato area? I am O-.

[reagan_fanatic]

My God - I didn't think it possible to survive 100% burns. May God give this poor little boy peace and freedom from his pain and anguish.

Dear Lord.

[wallcrawlr]

Mankato area:

http://www.southcentralmn.redcross.org/index.php?pr=Donate_Blood

Or try calling the hospital, Hennepin County Medical Center (612) 873-3000, to see if its needed.

Thats the best I could do from searching the internet for a few minutes.

[hmiller]

Is the StarTrib incorrect in the article posted today that Sky has O+ blood and can accept both O types? All articles I have seen clearly state O-.
On a side note, I am the mother of a 5 year old boy. Though I would never consider leaving him alone, I am sure the family is heartbroken and the father devastated. Hind sight is 20/20. Perhaps prayers for whatever outcome are what the family needs. I know it would not help me to see that others consider all is lost. Blood or no blood, infection or not, miracles happen. That is all we should pray for.

[MikefromOhio]

crap I am O+ but I have also been over in the Iraq for the past year....

well I will pray for the little guy.....

[wallcrawlr]

Agreed. If nothing else praying for this little boy to ease his pain and provide the comfort needed is certainly appropriate.

Perhaps God will provide the miracle so desperately needed here.

[Alkhin]

I think the key here is teh RH factor, which in this poor lad's case is Negative. There has to be EXACT match for that

[Alkhin]

Wish I could donate! I am AB+ with AB- being the rarest blood type.

[Nothometoday]

I am sorry...But I do thank you for all the answers.

[airedale]

I gave platelets today at the Red Cross and I asked them if people in other areas of the country can donate blood for this child. The answer is that they can go to any Red Cross Center and donate the blood, but one step has to be done first. The boys doctor has to contact that local chapter of the Red Cross ask them for the blood you're donating. Once that's done they set up a special donation and it gets shipped out to them. If more people who have that blood type want to donate they are also handled by that call to that local chapter. In this case if all the O- people in the San Fernando Valley wanted to donate blood for this child the one call from the Doctor would take care of it.

The article doesn't give the Doctors name but I'll bet the source of this article can get it if people who have the proper blood type want to donate blood for him.