ASBP: Young Cancer Patient Thanks Donors at Dover AFB
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Young Cancer Patient Thanks Donors at Dover AFB

06/02/2017
By Shawntel Trowell, ASBP Blood Donor Recruiter, National Capital Region


7-year-old lymphoma patient, Von Kleiv, stands at the signs to the blood drive with his thank you cards in hand to give to donors and ASBBC staff.
7-year-old lymphoma patient, Von Kleiv, stands at the signs to the blood drive with his thank you cards in hand to give to donors and ASBBC staff. 		7-year-old lymphoma patient, Von Kleiv, stands at the signs to the blood drive with his thank you cards in hand to give to donors and ASBBC staff.
Hospitalman Justin Morales (left), apheresis technician with the Armed Services Blood Bank Center in Bethesda, Md., Michael Holt (center), and Von Kleiv (right). Holt works with Von’s dad, Air Force Lt. Col. Dain Kleiv, and decided to donate because of Von’s story.
The Armed Services Blood Bank Center for the National Capital Region held their quarterly blood drive at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, April 10. A very special visitor came to the drive asking if he could see where blood came from and to thank donors.  

This special visitor was Von Kleiv, a vibrant 7-year-old who has T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma, a relatively rare aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He is the son of Air Force Lt Col Dain Kleiv and Gina Kleiv.  After he was diagnosed on May 10, 2016, Von began his chemotherapy treatment the next day. He will not be finished with his treatment until August 2018.

During the blood drive, he walked around and the blood donor staff explained their parts of the collection process and why it is important.

“Blood comes from really, really nice people who want to help other people who need blood, like me,” Von said.

While he was walking around learning about blood, Von went to each of the donors on the phlebotomy beds and thanked them by handing them a hand written thank you card.   

When Von is not getting his treatment, he loves going to his karate classes. He fell in love with the donor center’s Chuck Norris T-shirt.  Just recently, he was approved to go back to school and continue to learn and play with his classmates.

About the Armed Services Blood Program
Since 1962, the Armed Services Blood Program has served as the sole provider of blood for the United States military. As a tri-service organization, the ASBP collects, processes, stores and distributes blood and blood products to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and their families worldwide. As one of four national blood collection organizations trusted to ensure the nation has a safe, potent blood supply, the ASBP works closely with our civilian counterparts by sharing donors on military installations where there are no military blood collection centers and by sharing blood products in times of need to maximize availability of this national treasure. To find out more about the ASBP or to schedule an appointment to donate, please visit www.militaryblood.dod.mil. To interact directly with ASBP staff members, see more photos or get the latest news, follow @militaryblood on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube and Pinterest.  Find the drop. Donate.

The Armed Services Blood Program is a proud recipient of the Army Maj. Gen. Keith L. Ware Public Affairs award for journalism.