As nephew battles pediatric cancer, blood donations take on special meaning for Gates woman

It was a normal day at the office when I virtually “connected” with Lisa Bubel in March. 

The Spencerport native and mother of four tagged the Red Cross in a photo on our Twitter account. It was a picture of Bubel donating blood, part of a series of regular appointments the One Gallon donor proudly keeps.

What struck me, though, was that she also posted a photo of a young boy receiving blood – her two-year-old nephew Landon, currently battling cancer.

“I’m donating and I find out that my nephew is receiving blood at the exact same time,” Bubel explained. “It hit the heartstrings even more.”

Bubel is acutely aware of the lifesaving impact donating blood can have. Donating for the first time nearly 15 years ago, the lieutenant with the Rochester Fire Department and part-time Emergency Medical Technician, says she sees the critical need on an almost daily basis.

“So many people need it, people you don’t even realize. We need the blood supplies in stock and ready to go. God forbid there is a major disaster or injuries, you need it for that. But also cancer patients and people with various illnesses. It’s so important to have it in stock.”

Diagnosed at four months old after his parents discovered a lump on his nose, Bubel says Landon is in his second round of treatment and has received blood and platelets several times throughout his fight. Since then, donating blood has become something of a family tradition with future plans to hold a drive in Landon’s honor.

“It makes it much more meaningful when you know someone who has needed a transfusion. I know he’s not getting my blood, but I know that when I’m donating that it’s going to be used. He’s had times where they’ve needed to send him in now to get it. So I have that personal understanding of what it means to have everything stocked up and ready to go when its needed.”

That need, as Bubel well knows will become even more critical as we head into the summer months. As people resume normal summer activities, the likelihood that blood donor turnout and the blood supply is impacted becomes even greater. Every two seconds someone in the United States is in need of lifesaving blood and donating blood or platelets is not only an easy way to give back, but also to make a difference for those in need – people like Landon.

That’s why Bubel is encouraging family and friends to donate as often as they can. For her part, she’s even turned it into a friendly competition racking up badges on the Red Cross Blood Donor app and comparing milestones with loved ones.

“I can’t talk enough about the app! You can pre-register, fill in questions and schedule your appointment with the click of a button. I schedule my appointment before I walk from donating, it’s so easy,” Bubel laughed. “It’s just that first step of going into the unknown. Take that first step and donate. It’s helping so many people and it’s just so worth it.”

Worth it, indeed.

You can make an appointment to donate blood and provide help and hope to patients like Landon by visiting RedCrossBlood.org