7-Year-Old Cancer Survivor Hosts Blood Drive in Lindon

Two years ago, 7-year-old Quinn Danielsen wanted to be carried everywhere and started limping on the soccer field. His mom Karen soon learned why: a tumor the size of an adult's fist was pressing against his spine.

Quinn was diagnosed with neuroblastoma that had already spread throughout his body. For over a year, the 5-year-old endured hospital stays, doctor's appointments, and treatments that would test any child's courage.

"The scariest part was when they had to access my port, and they gave me an NG tube in my nose," Quinn said. He calls the scar from his feeding tube his "two belly buttons."

But Quinn had a secret weapon in his fight: strangers who rolled up their sleeves to donate blood. He needed 41 transfusions during his treatment, each one from someone he'd never meet.

Now Quinn is one year cancer-free and back to doing what he loves most: running and scoring goals on the soccer field. And he hasn't forgotten the lifesaving gift he received.

The Ripple Effect

Karen Danielsen watched her son battle cancer and knew they had to give back. On Saturday, May 9th, the family is hosting a Red Cross blood drive from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Lindon City Community Center.

"We have a lot of friends that are up there fighting right now, and we'd like to make sure that they have the supplies that they need," Karen said. The timing couldn't be more critical: earlier this year, the Red Cross hit dangerously low blood supplies nationwide.

Every 2 seconds, someone in the United States needs blood or platelets. Red blood cells last just 42 days, and platelets expire in only five days, which means hospitals need a constant stream of donations.

Quinn's drive could help dozens of families facing the same scary diagnosis his family did. Each donation can save up to three lives, turning one afternoon of giving into a cascade of hope for kids battling cancer.

Quinn proved he's tough enough to beat cancer, and now he's showing everyone that giving back is just as important as getting through.