News Releases

Help our kids through a critical blood shortage by donating blood

It typically takes more than 500 units of packed red blood cells and 100 units of platelets to support the children receiving chemotherapy each year at Corewell Health™ Children's in Royal Oak. For 2024, the hospital is on track to meet or perhaps exceed those numbers.

“Blood donations are essential for our children battling cancer, as the treatments and disease itself can put patients at risk for low red blood cell and platelet counts,” said  Kate Gowans, M.D., the chief of  Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Corewell Health Children’s in Royal Oak. “With Michigan’s critical blood shortage in mind, we, in partnership with Versiti Blood Center of Michigan, decided to host a blood drive to honor Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.”

The public is invited to donate blood on the following dates and times at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital in Royal Oak:

• Wednesday, September 4, from 3:30 - 8 p.m.
  10th floor of the Central Tower, Classroom A & B
• Wednesday, September 25, from 7 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  Administration Building, West Classroom 1

“One unit of blood can save up to three children’s lives,” Lisa Muma, RN, coordinator of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month at Corewell Health in Southeast Michigan, said. “For those who can’t donate, please consider joining us in going gold and raising awareness. Our children fight so hard every day, and they, along with their families, deserve to be honored and recognized this month and beyond.”

For information about donating blood, or to schedule an appointment, please visit donate.michigan.versiti.org and click “search donation locations.”

Here are some of the ways the hospital campus is “going gold” this September:

• Placement of more than 500 gold ribbons on trees and yard signs at Corewell Health Children’s locations in Royal Oak, Troy and Dearborn, as well as Woodward Corners.
• Gold superhero capes and “Go GOLD” T-shirts will be given to current pediatric oncology patients.
• Golden photo booth in the Pediatric Oncology office where patients, families and staff can take photos to share and raise awareness on social media with the #CorewellHealthGoesGold.
• Hospital signage at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital on 13 Mile Road is lighting up GOLD.

Progress in childhood cancer treatment and resources

“Survival rates for pediatric cancers have improved significantly over the past 50-plus years, thanks to innovative treatments and tools like proton therapy and molecularly targeted therapy,” Dr. Gowans said.

Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital was the first hospital in Michigan to treat pediatric patients with proton therapy technology.

“While our pediatric patients may finish their cancer treatment with us, we don’t stop caring,” said Kaydee Kaiser, M.D., a Corewell Health Children’s pediatric hematologist and oncologist. “One of the things we take pride in is our Pediatric Long-Term Follow-up Clinic that follows our childhood cancer survivors up to 10 years after therapy. Each visit, we review the chemotherapy the patient had and discuss pertinent symptoms that could be related to their history and any upcoming challenges they may or may not encounter.”

Another multidisciplinary program that serves as a resource for our kids is  The Gilbert Family Adolescent and Young Adult Program. It provides medical specialists, psycho-social services, financial resources and academic and mentor support for adolescents and young adults ages 15 to 26.

Patients treated at Corewell Health Children’s are also eligible to receive the Charles A. Main Pediatric Cancer Survivor Scholarship intended to help young people with cancer by encouraging them to look to the future and continue their education. Since its inception, more than 250 survivors have received financial assistance.