Meet Rhys Shaw

Hi I am Ryland Hilliard Shaw the IV, which is a mouth full so everyone calls me Rhys. I am 12 years old and have twin sisters that are 10. Our favorite family member is our dog “Ace”. I will be going into 7th grade at Daniel Island School. I love all things that have to do with football, especially The Seattle Seahawks! When I was 10 years old, I was diagnosed with Acute T-cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma. I will be done with treatment this November, yahoo!!! Over the last 2 years, I had so many platelet and blood transfusions I lost count!! If it wasn’t for all the generous people that donate blood products, I probably would not be here today. You see the chemotherapy was killing the cancer but it was also killing me at the same time. I came very close to dying from a hemorrhagic stroke. If there had not been enough platelets and blood to transfuse me with then I would not have been able to go into my emergency brain surgery. I am so thankful for everyone that donates. I cannot imagine someone not making it because there wasn’t enough blood products.