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Boston College Police Officer Joey Marano gave the greatest Christmas present of all to a seven-year-old girl at Children's Hospital last month: the gift of life.
A long-time blood and platelet donor at the hospital, Marano was contacted by medical officials to ask if he would donate his matching white blood cells to help save the life of a youngster facing an acute medical emergency.
"I was on my way into work," Marano recalls, "but they told me, 'We need you to come in now.' I called in, took a vacation day, and went right down to the hospital."
Technicians gave Marano an injection to stimulate the growth of white blood cells, and told him to report back at 7:30 the next morning for the four-hour collection procedure. "There's only a 12-hour leeway when the procedure can be done," Marano explains. "I was on the machine for about four hours. It took my blood out, removed the white cells, and then put the blood back in. There are a couple of big metal needles in your arms and you can't move your arms during the entire procedure."
The transfusion was successful and hospital officials report that the young patient is doing well.
Marano, who was a paramedic before joining the BCPD in 1994, says he has donated blood, platelets and cells on a regular basis for many years. "I have been very fortunate, and I want to do something proactively," he says. "I have seen other people's mothers and fathers get cancer or other diseases, and when I worked on the ambulances years ago, I saw a lot of children with some really serious health problems.
"I've been a monthly blood and platelet donor, but every once in a while you get a call saying there is a child who matches the criteria for white blood cells or marrow or whatever," he says. "When you are doing platelets, you know it is going to a great cause, but when you get that special call to come in, it really hits home. I'll keep doing it."
"Donors like Joey are critical for us," says Maureen Beaton, transfusion services manager at Children's, who notes that Marano has made nearly 200 donations. "This case was a child who was having a medical emergency and had a tremendous need, specifically, for white blood cells. If we did not have donors like Joey, we would have major issues supplying blood for all of the people who need it, not just the kids here at Children's. If only everyone would do what he does."
Members of the Boston College community who would like more information on becoming a blood or platelet donor at Children's Hospital may contact the program through www.halfpints.childrenshospital.org.