Blood Transfusion Recipient

JOSHUA SPAULDING

 

Joshua Spaulding has been a spokesperson for American Red Cross Blood Services since he was seven years old. He spurs blood donor recruitment in Upstate New York by conducting newspaper and television interviews to underscore the need for blood.

At age nine months, Josh was diagnosed with a serious condition called Hypogammaglobulinemia that leaves him virtually unprotected against everything from the common cold and chicken pox to other serious illnesses.

As part of his treatment, every two weeks Josh receives an infusion of gamma globulin. Gamma globulin is a plasma product manufactured from plasma proteins extracted from the blood of literally thousands of donors. Some days Josh wonders if "there will be no one who cares enough to continue to give blood for me and others, and that is so scary."

A child with a significant medical condition certainly has enough to be concerned about. But Josh is determined to be a normal child. And for Josh "normal" means helping others.

When his best friend's sister was diagnosed with leukemia in 1996, he became involved with the Make A Wish Foundation at his school. "I wanted to help because I know what it’s like to be sick," Josh said.

Josh describes himself as someone who likes to help people. And at age 13, he has already helped countless people through his advocacy for blood donation, his fund raising for the Make A Wish Foundation and his selfless participation in medical research.

This spring, Josh was chosen by the Points of Light Foundation as Daily Point of Light Number 1592 for March 10, 2000. The foundation recognizes contributions that individuals, organizations and businesses make toward solving serious social problems.