When Sid was diagnosed with lymphoma, he fought long and hard to battle the disease. Every day, men, women and children just like Sid are diagnosed with various types of cancer and leukemia. Their treatments may include the transfusion of blood and blood products like platelets. Donors of all blood types are needed to make those platelets, which are a fragile component made from a whole blood donation. Platelets collected through blood donations help patients until their own bodies can supply the platelets needed to control bleeding.
Platelets have a short life-span ofjust five days.
Sadly, Sid died in October 1999 at the age of 57. Sid's friends at the Knights of Columbus organized a blood drive in his memory, because they know how important blood donations were in helping to treat him. We're honoring a true gentleman. We are tying to provide a token of our respect for a man who worked very hard for the Knights and the church. Sid's smile and ever-present generosity will be sorely missed.