Gracie Steffes
In 2004, 4 year old Gracie Steffes came down with a headache, sore throat and fever. It was during flu season so her mother, Michelle, took her to the doctor. Blood tests were done since testing for seasonal ailments such as influenza, strep and the common cold were ruled out. The blood tests revealed that Gracie was suffering from Leukemia.
Gracie and her mom immediately were taken by ambulance to a Des Moines hospital. Testing there showed that her bone marrow was made up of 94 percent cancerous cells.
Chemotherapy was crucial to helping Gracie fight the leukemia. Blood transfusions were required to help Gracie replace her blood cells and to give her the energy that she needed. Michelle and Marty, Gracie’s father, said that each transfusion made her perk up immediately.
Since Gracie’s diagnosis of leukemia her parents have fought to help other patients like Gracie win the fight with illnesses by hosting an annual blood drive in their hometown of Carroll, IA with the Siouxland Community Blood Bank.
"You look at Gracie and she tells the whole story of why it is important to donate blood," Marty said.
Both Marty and Michelle Steffes wish they had the opportunity to thank the volunteer blood donors who saved Gracie’s life. Instead, when people ask them how they can help others with leukemia, they tell them to donate blood.
Now 8, Gracie Steffes is the happy, healthy girl that Marty and Michelle knew before her diagnosis.
Having a loved one need this lifesaving gift has made the Steffes’ find ways to help others around them who need blood, too. Both Marty and Michelle are regular donors with the Siouxland Community Blood Bank and strongly encourage you to safe a life, too.
