With everyone’s help we had 54 people who turned out to give blood, but we only had 36 useable units.  I have to say I am so proud to live in Atmore.

With myself having surgery last Wednesday I was very depressed that I was not going to be able to go to the high school, but with all the students that volunteered and with Red Cross workers we had a very good drive.  With Alabama being an import state which means that we have to usually get blood from other states when our banks run low, I was very glad that this drive turned out to keep 36 units in our state.

Our state can always use blood.

I personally want to say thank you to Mr. Byrd and the high school for letting us have the drive at the high school and the student volunteers, but I most want to say thank you to the students who donated blood.  You are a wonderful bunch of kids and I am proud that my daughter is a member of the student body.  Yes, Mary Ellen is doing very well after she had her last surgery on her back, and we are striving for her to go back to school at the beginning of the year.

She has come a long way from June with three surgeries.

Our family wants to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and thank you for giving the best gift which is the gift of life blood. Thank you so much everyone!

Merry Christmas!

Love,
Jeni, Joe
and Mary Ellen Ray