The simple act of donating blood has had a profound impact on the life of five-year-old Nova Scotian Gracie Bell.

When she was born, her body wasn’t creating platelets. As a newborn in the neo-natal intensive care unit, little Gracie was given several transfusions of platelets. Not long after, she was diagnosed with leukemia.

Her mother, Canadian Forces corporal Tammie Bell, explains that the cancer treatment depleted her body of good blood, so she needed transfusions — up to three units a week. Now, she is thriving, and her leukemia has been in remission for three years.

“I am so grateful to see Gracie grow as a little girl, to witness her discover and experience the world,” says Bell. “My daughter might not have lived if people hadn’t taken the time to donate blood.”

Canadian Blood Services will host a donor clinic at the St. Denis Centre on Wednesday, Nov. 21. It will run 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Walk-in donors are welcome, but appointments will better accommodate donors’ working schedules. To book an appointment, call 1-888-2DONATE (1-888-236-6283).

As with previous clinics, the Department of Human Resources encourages all eligible employees to participate in this worthwhile process and asks any employees who wish to donate to make the necessary arrangements with their supervisors regarding the possibility of extended lunch or break periods.