Pocono News Section

Blood Drive Benefits Toddler With Cancer

Blood Drive Benefits Toddler With Cancer - Wednesday, May 19, 2010 at 04:13AM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Wednesday May 19 2010
Dozens of volunteers rolled up their sleeves in Union County Wednesday to help a very special little girl.

The American Red Cross organized the blood drive in honor of Mackenzie Heyler.

Mackenzie suffers from retinal blastoma, a rare form of cancer affecting both of her eyes.

She's currently in the fifth of a six-month cycle of treatments at the Children's Hospital of Philadephia.

The blood drive was held at Playworld Systems in Lewisburg, where Mackenzie's father, Ed Heyler, is an employee.

Ed noted, "Because of her treatments, because of the effects of the chemo, she has had to have a platelet transfusion every month. So this is huge to see a nice turnout like that because it is something that she does need."

We're told Mackenzie is responding well to her treatments.

Retinal blastoma affects about 300 children per year in the United States.