It’s the battle of the badges … the annual blood drive pitting police, firefighters and EMS against each other.The purpose is to raise awareness for blood donations and stock the shelves at the blood center.All types of blood are desperately needed right now.And for one local firefighter in Jefferson Parish, this issue hits close to home, because what the blood center recently provided to his child, helped save her life.Inside this Jefferson Parish firehouse in Elmwood, Blake Estevez is living his dream.”I love what I do,” Estevez said.He always wanted to be a firefighter.After 10 years on the job in Houma, Estevez joined JP fire last January.Shortly before he changed jobs the Destrehan High grad and his wife had their first child, a daughter named Blakley.But nine months ago, they had quite a scare.During a routine check-up after Blakley’s mom felt a lump near the child’s side.”That’s where they determined there was a mast there — and it was cancer, it was Wilm’s tumor or nephroblastoma,” Estevez said.So, their fight started.Blakley’s kidney and the tumor were successfully removed and she started chemotherapy.With that, she needed platelets.”She had to have platelets and a platelet transfusion and the first thing they said is we have to get checked and see if they have any. And I remember thinking, why wouldn’t they have platelets on hand?” Estevez said.Because donations nationwide, and right here at home, are down.That’s why the Blood Center says drives, like the battle of the badges, are necessary.In years past, the event held in the parking lot of WDSU has made a big difference.”It was at that time that I realized all those blood drives, all those times they’re out there collecting blood, it’s for families like us — someone who has a kid or parent going through the worst times of their lives,” Estevez said.The good news, enough platelets were found to help little 18-month-old Blakely. “We just found out last week Blakely is in remission now,” Estevez said.Thanks, in part, to the giving of others.And for this firefighter, he’s pulling for his team on Friday in the battle of the badges, but knows this fight is bigger than that.”We’re going to win, as usual, but the real winners are the families the kids like Blakely who need this and can breathe that sigh of relief when they get what they need,” Estevez said.
It’s the battle of the badges … the annual blood drive pitting police, firefighters and EMS against each other.
The purpose is to raise awareness for blood donations and stock the shelves at the blood center.
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All types of blood are desperately needed right now.
And for one local firefighter in Jefferson Parish, this issue hits close to home, because what the blood center recently provided to his child, helped save her life.
Inside this Jefferson Parish firehouse in Elmwood, Blake Estevez is living his dream.
“I love what I do,” Estevez said.
He always wanted to be a firefighter.
After 10 years on the job in Houma, Estevez joined JP fire last January.
Shortly before he changed jobs the Destrehan High grad and his wife had their first child, a daughter named Blakley.
But nine months ago, they had quite a scare.
During a routine check-up after Blakley’s mom felt a lump near the child’s side.
“That’s where they determined there was a mast there — and it was cancer, it was Wilm’s tumor or nephroblastoma,” Estevez said.
So, their fight started.
Blakley’s kidney and the tumor were successfully removed and she started chemotherapy.
With that, she needed platelets.
“She had to have platelets and a platelet transfusion and the first thing they said is we have to get checked and see if they have any. And I remember thinking, why wouldn’t they have platelets on hand?” Estevez said.
Because donations nationwide, and right here at home, are down.
That’s why the Blood Center says drives, like the battle of the badges, are necessary.
In years past, the event held in the parking lot of WDSU has made a big difference.
“It was at that time that I realized all those blood drives, all those times they’re out there collecting blood, it’s for families like us — someone who has a kid or parent going through the worst times of their lives,” Estevez said.
The good news, enough platelets were found to help little 18-month-old Blakely.
“We just found out last week Blakely is in remission now,” Estevez said.
Thanks, in part, to the giving of others.
And for this firefighter, he’s pulling for his team on Friday in the battle of the badges, but knows this fight is bigger than that.
“We’re going to win, as usual, but the real winners are the families the kids like Blakely who need this and can breathe that sigh of relief when they get what they need,” Estevez said.