Blood drives held for ailing firefighter
MIAMI (WSVN) -- A 30-year veteran of the Miami-Dade Fire Department who normally does a lot of volunteer and community work now needs the community to come together for her.
Firefighter Catherine Wall, 43, is the benefits officer for the fire department and is fighting Myelodysplastic Syndrome, a very serious and aggressive disease of the bone marrow as a result of Leukemia. "This changed my life because I'm locked in a hospital room, and this is not what I'm used to doing, not used to sitting," she said.
Among the recognition for her work, she was runner up for the Employee of the Year 2008 and received a medal in March, earlier this year for her work with cerebral palsy work. Besides the local community, Wall has helped those in need in Jamaica, Africa and other parts of the world. "I have a lot to live for," she said. "I have a lot to do."
The screening test for bone marrow involves taking a small blood sample to determine if you are a match. There is a need for people of mixed race and Caribbean descent to contribute bone marrow. Ninety-eight percent of all people on the national bone marrow registry are Caucasian.
Several locations will hold a blood drive in Wall's name. You can find a list of locations by clicking here.
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