INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (June 11, 2014)– Indianapolis resident Kevin Buccheit started donating blood back when he was in college. Little did he know, his precious little girl would end up needing blood one day.
His daughter, Kate, is a beautiful healthy 21-year old girl.
“My motto is live life to the fullest and really appreciate every day we have because you never know what could happen in life,” said Kate.
But what happened 14 years ago feels like it was just yesterday.
“I kept getting sick one thing after another, ear infection, strep throat, this and that,” said Kate.
At 6 years old, Kate was diagnosed with leukemia.
“The call was one no parent wants to receive,” said Kevin. “It’s ‘go to Riley immediately, they’re waiting for you.’”
Chemo started right away. Kate said there were a lot of needles and a lot of shots.
“My childhood was definitely different, my parents had to keep me contained with the germs everywhere,” said Kate.
She remembers asking her parents many times if she was going to die.
“When I asked them, ‘Mommy, daddy am I going to die?’ They said, ‘We hope not, but you’re going to stay strong and we’re going to get through this.’”
But the uphill battle was only beginning. Kate said it was very hard when she lost her hair. To make it a little easier, Kate’s dad let her shave his head.
“Looking back on that now, it means more to know that he was willing to do that for me,” said Kate.
Kate was in treatment for years and finally declared cancer free when she was 12. While she missed out on those fun childhood years, Kate is now studying dietetics at the University of Southern Indiana.
“I always want to help people. I want to be able to give back in some way,” said Kate.
And she is. After receiving multiple blood transfusions, Kate is now able to donate blood. For her, it’s not only a way to give back and reassurance that she has beaten cancer.
“It was a great feeling knowing that I’m healthy enough, my blood is healthy enough to help someone else which means I finally made it through,” said Kate.
Kate and her dad have since donated together.
“We started off together healthy and here we were again, healthy and able to do these kinds of activities together,” said Kevin.
Healthy blood is what helped save Kate’s life, they encourage you to help save someone else’s.
“The importance of it, this little thing you could do that would help save so many lives,” Kate said. “Give if you can. Give every eight weeks if you can. It’s easy, you don’t lose anything and the best part is they feed you when you are done, you get snacks!”
The family is now looking forward to life’s landmark events.
“I’ll be able to walk her down the aisle,” said Kevin. “I’ll be able to hold her children one day, sometimes those are things we take for granted.”
FOX59 would like to see all of you come out and donate at our blood drive with The Indiana Blood Center this Friday, June 13 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
You can show up at their locations in downtown Indianapolis, Carmel, Columbus, Fishers, Greenwood, Lafayette or Muncie. You are encouraged to make an appointment.