SV senior’s blood drive project aims to help mother, others

When high school students complete their senior projects, they often give them a decidedly personal touch.

But is hard to imagine any being more personal than the one soon-to-be Seneca Valley senior Karina Latsko has chosen.

Karina, with the help of the Central Blood Bank, will hold a blood drive from noon to 5 p.m.Aug. 13 at Revolution Physical Therapy’s Cranberry location at 8001 Rowan Road.

She said the drive will, in part, serve as a blood replenishment effort for her mother, Donna, who on Good Friday was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. She continues to undergo treatment that includes frequent blood transfusions.

“I knew as soon as my mom was diagnosed that I wanted to use my project to show the importance of blood donations,” Karina said.

She is determined to encourage not only traditional blood donations, but also donations of blood platelets, which can play an important role for those battling some forms of cancer, including the type her mother has.

“My mom gets platelet transfusions on a regular basis, and since her blood type is O-negative, they sometimes have to fly them in from as far away as Texas,” Karina said.

Because the donation of platelets is a more-involved and time-consuming process, platelet donations will not be taken at the Aug. 13 event. But information about how and where such donations can be made, as well as how important such donations can be, will be available.

“Before my diagnosis, I had no idea how important it was to donate blood and platelets,” Donna Latsko said.

Those attending also can volunteer to provide a cheek swab, used to enter information into a database designed to match those in need of bone marrow transplants with potential donors.

“They could get a call years down the road saying they might have a chance to do something good for someone,” Karina said.

For Donna, who has lived in Cranberry with her husband, Michael, since 1994, this is not her first battle against cancer. In 2009, the mother of three was treated for thyroid cancer.

“I think it’s great that Karina chose to do this project, not only to help me, but the thousands of others in need of these donations every day,” Donna said.

“Creating awareness is the first step to solving the problem. I’m so proud of her in her efforts to make this drive a success.”

Donations on Aug. 13 will be taken by appointment, and Karina said she has set up three ways that those interested in donating or receiving more information can register.

They can complete an online survey at surveymonkey.com/r/LKWHGSD.

They also can visit https://donateblood.centralbloodbank.org, click on “New Donor” and enter the group code Z0020965; or contact Karina directly by emailing klatsko12@gmail.com or calling or texting 724-584-7949.

Vince Townley is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-772-6364 or vtownley@tribweb.com.