Cincinnati 5-year-old to celebrate birthday by hosting Hoxworth Community Blood Drive

Hoxworth Blood Center urgently appeals to blood donors this summer. Blood is a vital yet finite resource that cannot be manufactured in a lab. Your donations ensure patients like Brynn receive blood products for routine treatments and unexpected emergencies.

Brynn was diagnosed with Factor XIII deficiency shortly after her birth in 2019. This extremely rare blood disorder leads to abnormal blood clotting and can cause severe bleeding. Just one day after being born, Brynn was rushed to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, where numerous tests and examinations eventually led to her diagnosis of having Factor XIII deficiency.

“It remains my mission, and will continue to be, year after year, to bring awareness to the lifesaving, selfless act of donating blood,” says Lindsay Schulte, Brynn’s mother. “Brynn’s path may not be linear or clear.“But one path that IS straightforward, certain, and clear is her need for blood donations. This gift allows her to thrive and experience a happy, healthy life. Brynn has no choice in this, but our blood donors do!”

Brynn receives Corifact (human-derived plasma) through a port located on her chest as part of her routine treatment plan. Blood products like plasma are a limited resource and cannot be manufactured in a lab, so we rely on volunteer blood donors to ensure a steady and stable supply for patients like Brynn. To date, Brynn has received well over 800 infusions of plasma.

“We want to ‘pay it forward’ to those who have helped us along our journey,” Lindsay explains. “We want to show our gratitude by giving back and bringing awareness to how important and EASY donating blood can be. People want to ‘help’ or ‘give’ in times of crisis, and this blood drive is a way for people to give back truly.”

Brynn’s Birthday Blood Drive appointments are highly encouraged, though walk-ins are welcome. Donors can schedule appointments by calling 513-451-0910 or by scheduling online at https://donateblood.uc.edu/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/46800.

To learn more about Brynn’s story and diagnosis, visit https://hoxworth.org/donors/why-donate-blood/recipient-stories/brynn.html.