MADISON TOWNSHIP — Ten-year-old London Hamilton has had 64 blood transfusions in the last 14 months.
In December 2022, London was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare bone cancer that most commonly impacts children and young adults.
Since then, the Madison South fourth grader has been fighting for her life with her family by her side.
“She’s had quite the journey and she’s one strong girl for sure,” said her mother, Carley Hamilton.
Staff, students and community members honored that journey Thursday during a blood drive at Madison Comprehensive High School.
Members of the National Honor Society (NHS), overseen by math teacher and adviser Tracey Burden, organized the event.
Unlike the other two blood drives organized by NHS each year, this drive was open to the public and extended after school hours. Burden said Thursday morning that all 138 appointment slots had been reserved and there had already been a few walk-ins.
“We scheduled a lot of appointments from London’s family and friends that found out about the drive and staff members from across our district,” Burden said.
“Administrators have been really, really accommodating today allowing people to come and donate during certain times of their day.”
Carley Hamilton said the blood drive was something of a celebration.
After finishing chemotherapy last month, doctors say they believe London’s cancer is gone. She’ll get a PET scan to verify she is completely cancer-free later this month.
But London’s body is still recovering from months of chemotherapy, radiation and regular hospital visits.
“She’s struggling still right now because she’s trying to get those counts back up,” Carley said.
“The chemo really weakened her immune system. She’s got a lot of therapy she’s going to have to go through to be able to walk again. But she she’s she’s showing everybody how strong she is.”
Blood donors meet a crucial need for cancer, trauma patients
Having an adequate supply of donor blood is crucial for hospitals. Blood transfusions save the lives of people with cancer, blood disorders, anemia and other chronic conditions.
People suffering from traumatic injuries like a car crash and women giving birth also benefit from transfusions.
“It’s a huge need that I think a lot of people don’t really realize,” said Max Miller, Columbus North District manager for the American Red Cross.
“Every two seconds, somebody in the U.S. needs blood. If you happen to be in a trauma situation, you can use up to 100 units of blood.”
When transfusions are delayed due to a short supply, patients can suffer from symptoms like exhaustions, fever, trouble concentrating, trouble breathing, loss of appetite and increased susceptibility to infection.
Carley said she was touched by the number of people who signed up to give blood in London’s honor.
“It makes me want to cry,” she said. “It warms my heart, because I see the struggle of the blood shortage. The most she’s had to wait at one time was 18 hours for one unit of blood.”
It’s one of many ways the community has come through for London.
“Madison South has been great,” Carley said. “They’ll do online with her if she’s in the hospital, but if she’s at home, the teachers actually come to the house.
“We’ve had as much support as I could ever imagine, especially from the Madison community.”
